Final Score: York United 3-0 Vancouver FC
Goalscorers: Wright 70′, 90+3′, Salanović 83′
Game of the 2024 season: 9
CPL match: 493

Match in a minute or less

For the first time since September 23, 2022 York United scored three goals at home. It came in their first victory of 2024, 3-0 against Vancouver FC on Friday night at York Lions Stadium.

Brian Wright had likely his best performance in a York United shirt during a dominant second half as he opened the scoring in the 70th minute. He then turned provider in the 83rd as Dennis Salanović opened his CPL account, before completing his brace in second-half stoppage time.

For Vancouver FC, it was a humbling defeat after they had picked up a pair of home victories to open the season. York United have now defeated Vancouver five times in all competitions, more than any other club has beaten the expansion side.

Three Observations

York United’s attack ignites during dominant second-half 

The Nine Stripes flipped the script on Friday. After a humbling 3-0 loss the weekend prior at home against rivals Forge FC in the 905 Derby, they picked up a 3-0 victory of their own against Vancouver FC at York Lions Stadium.

It was a second-half masterclass that made all the difference as York smelled blood after Max Ferrari got in behind on multiple occasions at around the hour mark, which led to a pair of half chances. Unsurprisingly, York’s opener came down that flank moments later as the exceptional interplay between Brem Soumaoro, Max Ferrari and Juán Córdova created the opening for the latter to burst into the box. He found Brian Wright to tap home the opener.

Knowing Vancouver had to chase the game thereafter, York switched to a more direct attacking approach as the game got stretched — which was critical to their next two goals. Wright led the line brilliantly as space opened transitionally, finding pockets of space and beating players to create for himself and others.

“Not just the goals but his work rate was really good, he held the ball really well,” said York United head coach Martin Nash. “He brought the midfield into the game, he created chances for himself and others. So it was a complete performance for him.”

Brian Wright puts the icing on the cake for @yorkutdfc, increasing the lead in stoppage time with his second goal of the match 🔥#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/BWuJfFoAzD

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) April 27, 2024

On the third goal, in particular, Wright showed outstanding composure, first rounding Callum Irving before waiting out Rocco Romeo to finish off the chance. Wright had a bit of a tough season last year in front of goal, scoring six fewer goals than expected last season. So getting his first, and second of the season, had to do a world of good for his confidence.

“I just think that our compete level was where it needed to be, we competed from the first minute,” said Nash. “I think that Elijah [Adekugbe’s] tackle, great tackle in the middle of the park set the tone and the rest of the guys stepped up and responded…I was really pleased with the performance, the energy, the effort all the way ’til the end.”

York debut fluid 4-4-2, as Córdova, Sturing make their debuts

For the majority of Martin Nash’s tenure as head coach of York United, the club has stuck to a fairly consistent 4-2-3-1 shape.

With more options at his disposal on Friday night, however, with central defender Frank Sturing and fullback Juan Córdova returning to the lineup, the Nine Stripes debuted a 4-4-2 formation that allowed for a strong defensive shape, while offering different options in attack.

“I felt that we’d maybe get more in attack, we created in the first game, we didn’t create much last week,” said Nash. “I thought just maybe a way for us to get a bit more going forward, and put [Austin] Ricci in a more natural position and allow Mo [Babouli] to come off the left. I thought it worked well, so it’s another way we can play now. So we don’t have to be as one-dimensional.”

With Córdova in the lineup, Max Ferrari pushed forward as a wide midfielder on the right, while Austin Ricci joined Brian Wright up top in a two-man strike partnership. When York had the ball, they were able to push Babouli and Ferrari higher up the pitch to provide width across the frontline — often with four across the front.

Brian Wright gives @yorkutdfc the lead at home! ⚽#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/D76ldK0EgI

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) April 27, 2024

Defensively, the team were able to settle well into two banks of four which proved incredibly difficult for Vancouver to play through when it was in its set shape.

It also allowed Ferrari and Córdova to create a lethal partnership down the right — including combining well on the opening goal. In his CPL first match with the Nine Stripes, the 28-year-old Córdova demonstrated his immense quality. He picked up an assist and attempted a match-leading 19 passes in the final third as he frequently flew forward to create numbers in attack.

Vancouver taught a bitter lesson, as road struggles continue 

The Eagles have already shown significant progression so far this season, but winning on the road remains a key next step in the club’s evolution. After a pair of wins at home to start the season, Vancouver FC have now fallen twice in the space of a week away from home with Friday’s loss following a 1-0 defeat to Cavalry in the Canadian Championship on Tuesday.

In particular, on Friday, the previously soaring attack of Vancouver FC looked stagnant as it failed to break down York United and managed to test Nine Stripes keeper Thomas Vincensini just twice.

By the time they allowed the opening goal in the 70th minute, it was always going to be a challenge for them to get back into the match considering the difference in freshness between the sides.

“Once you are down 1-0 you are physically tired you are mentally tired, players tried to come back into the game, so we had to play more open and as we played more open we left a lot of players one-v-one,” said Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi. “Both goals after that were really silly individual mistakes that ended the game 3-0.”

Ghotbi did mention that the club didn’t travel much during training camp, beyond a trip out to Vancouver Island. So the lessons of this week need to be implemented in how the club approaches the road part of the remainder of the season.

“We have to as a group learn how to play on the road,” said Ghotbi. “I think this will be a bitter lesson in the last two matches that we’ve played the cup game on Tuesday and tonight.”

At the same time, it is important for Vancouver to stay positive about their start to the season. A loss like this has the potential to completely derail the positive momentum from their strong start, something they cannot afford to let happen.

“I think the key for me is to stay calm, as I always try to stay calm and try to collectively with my staff and with my players find ways to win the next game that we play,” said Ghotbi. “It’s one day at a time, one game at a time, and the worst case scenario we are going to be three points out of the top of the table. So there’s always light in darkness.”

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Brian Wright, York United 

Wright played a key role in all three York goals, scoring a brace with an outstanding assist in the middle. His work rate up top was excellent throughout, completing two dribbles and winning five duels.

What’s next?

York United are in Hamilton next for a Canadian Championship fixture against Forge on Wednesday, May 1 (7:00 p.m. ET). Their next CPL game will be Saturday, May 4 at Starlight Stadium against Pacific (7:00 p.m. ET). Vancouver, meanwhile, return to Calgary for a league match against Cavalry FC, who recently eliminated them from the Canadian Championship, on Friday, May 3 (6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET).

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