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Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 1)
2023-04-17
Gatorade Team of the Week News

The Gatorade Team of the Week for the opening week of Canadian Premier League action in 2023, brought to you by Kristian Jack and OneSoccer’s Oliver Platt.

CPL Team of the Week – Week One

Goalkeeper

Callum Irving (Vancouver FC) 

Irving was busy in Vancouver FC’s first competitive match, which might be a theme throughout the early part of the season. He made two excellent saves against his former side — including one on long-time friend and Pacific FC captain Josh Heard — and was generally commanding at the back for Vancouver.

Defenders 

Riley Ferrazzo (HFX Wanderers) 

In his professional debut, the 23-year-old fullback was outstanding. Only Lorenzo Callegari had more touches on the ball for Halifax than Ferrazzo’s 105. He had 25 passes in the final third, and completed 94.1 per cent of his passes during a tidy overall performance.

Daniel Nimick (HFX Wanderers) 

Another Halifax player making his professional debut, Nimick was immense in limiting Ottawa to just 0.52 expected goals on Saturday. He misplaced only two of his 41 pass attempts, won possession back six times and made four clearances.

Abdou Samaké (Valour FC) 

Valour pick kept a big clean sheet on the road against York on Sunday, orchestrated in part by some brilliant defending from Abdou Samaké. The 26-year-old won possession back six times — including three times in the air during a dominant performance at the back.

Bradley Vliet (Pacific FC) 

In his Pacific debut, Vliet was a constant threat down the left flank, playing eight crosses, and winning seven of ten duels. With the height and quality that Pacific has in the centre of the park, look for Vliet to pick up several assists this season if he can continue to get himself into good crossing positions.

Bradley Vliet against Vancouver FC (Sheldon Mack / Pacific FC)

Midfielders 

Lorenzo Callegari (HFX Wanderers) 

The 25-year-old has played the game at the very highest level, making an appearance for PSG back in 2016, and that class was quickly evident. His stunning CPL debut saw him make 127 (!) touches, made 30 passes in the final third and win possession back nine times as the engineer of an impressive start to the season for the Wanderers.

Raphael Ohin (Valour FC) 

The Rhino was back after missing the entire 2021 season due to injury, and provided the spark that ignited a brilliant midfield performance from Valour against York. He set up Valour’s winning goal, sending an excellent cross into the box that resulted in an own goal. He also had 88.9 per cent pass completion.

Noah Jensen (Forge FC) 

Jensen’s clever volley rescued a draw for Forge in their home opener against Cavalry, a just reward for an outstanding performance in midfield. Jensen created a match-leading three chances and had 90.2 per cent pass completion during an immense start to the season.

Manny Aparicio (Pacific FC) 

Aparicio provided perhaps the moment of the Canadian Premier League’s opening weekend with his late winner on a stunning volley against rivals Vancouver FC. His shush to the away support in celebration was the perfect way to ignite the new derby. As always, he was all-action, winning the ball back eight times as well.

Forwards 

Myer Bevan (Cavalry FC) 

After missing a long stretch of last season with a lingering injury, Bevan was back in the goals in week one. He had three shot attempts, all inside the box and also had an assist — albeit with almost all the credit on the second Cavalry goal going to Miki Cantave. The Cavs are significantly more dangerous with the New Zealander in the lineup.

Pacifique Niyongabire (Valour FC) 

With the departures of Sean Rea and Moses Dyer, there were legitimate questions about who might be the architect of the Valour attack in 2023. Niyongabire answered that question quickly, creating six chances and an assist in his CPL debut, he also attempted 10 dribbles completing four.

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