Final Score: York United 0-2 Valour FC
Goalscorers: Grant (o.g.) 51′, Novak 53′
Game of the 2023 season: 4
CPL match: 371

Match in a minute or less

A new-look Valour FC impressed during a 2-0 victory over York United at York Lions Stadium. After finishing 2022 winless in their final seven road matches, the Winnipeg side was full value for the three points in their first foray away from home in 2023.

After a cagey opening half, Valour scored two goals in quick succession early in the second half. York defender Jonathan Grant accidentally redirected Raphael Ohin’s cross into his own net in the 51st minute, while Anthony Novak found the back of the net in his first match for his third CPL side to complete the scoring. Rayane Yesli made a pair of impressive saves — and got some help from the woodwork — to keep a clean sheet.

For a club that dropped 22 points from winning positions last year, Valour was able to close out what was an ideal way to start the season against a York club that has similar ambitions to climb above the playoff line in 2023.

Three Observations

Valour’s midfield trio deliver dominant performance to lead the Winnipeg side to victory

The clock wound back to 2020 for Valour FC in the middle of the park. During the P.E.I. bubble, Raphael Ohin, Dante Campbell and Diego Gutiérrez all played together for the Winnipeg side.

Their career paths have taken different paths since, Ohin missed the 2022 season through injury, Campbell — who was on loan with Valour back then from Toronto FC II — joined the club from LA Galaxy II this offseason, while Diego Gutiérrez spent a season in Chile before rejoining the team last year.

Reunited, the trio bossed the midfield, providing Valour with a clear pathway to victory. At times last year, Valour struggled to possess the ball in the middle of the park. That was not the case on Sunday, as despite being the road side they held just a sliver under 50% of possession, with the midfield trio unquestionably leading the way. All completed the vast majority of their passes during the match, Gutiérrez (90.9 per cent), Campbell (93.8 per cent) and Ohin (88.9 per cent), helping the side to keep the ball and limited York’s counter-attacking opportunities for most of the 90 minutes.

The tenacious Campbell often sat a little bit deeper, allowing Gutiérrez and Ohin to shift a little bit forward and get involved in the attack. He won three tackles, made four interceptions, and lost possession just four times during an impressive defensive performance. Ohin set up the opening goal with a great cross and was a spark going forward throughout the match in his return to CPL action. Forever excellent on the ball, Gutiérrez created three chances during the match, a team-leading four shots, and had the most touches of any Valour player with 66.

“I’m very happy with the midfield, I think in the off-season, it is something that we addressed because we felt that we had been a bit light in options and also the versatility and flexibility that it brings us,” said Valour head coach Phil Dos Santos.

Valour target the right flank, creating both goals from that side of the pitch

Almost half of Valour’s attacks came down the right side. Whether that was a directive to target the newer York players in those positions versus the more experienced left flank, or just to try to get the exciting Pacifique Niyongabire involved in the match, Valour found a lot of joy when attacking down that flank.

“We knew that we were one or two balls away, like you see a guy like Pacifique who got through a few times and was close to creating a chance, we just needed to be a bit more clinical,” said Dos Santos. “With a better press in the second half, especially the first [few] minutes until the second goal, we were able to create more by recovering balls higher on the field.”

Niyongabire looks to be an exciting attacking player for a Valour side that lost a number of them this offseason. He showed no fear in taking players on throughout the match, with 10 dribble attempts (four of them successful), and created an impressive six chances, one of which resulted in an assist on Anthony Novak’s goal. He also showed to fit Dos Santos’ pressing system incredibly well, winning possession five times including once in the final third.

Fullback Andy Baquero was excellent at progressing the ball forward down the right flank as well, making 20 passes into the final third. Both Valour goals were created from the right flank, as were several other solid chances as the club was consistently able to find openings down that side of the pitch.

Lack of familiarity shows for both sides, as they spend opening half figuring each other out

York had seven players in their starting lineup who were not on the team last year, while Valour had six (plus Ohin who missed the 2022 season through injury). In the opening half especially, the two sides lacked a little bit of rhythm, with just a single shot on target between the two sides.

Several promising attacking forays resulted in nothing after miscommunications, or players not understanding where their teammate was trying to go. York, in particular, got into very promising positions during the match but managed just two shots on target despite taking 11 inside the box and putting up 1.53 expected goals.

More concerning for York, however, was how disorganized at times they looked at the back. Injuries to Tass Mourdoukoutas and Roger Thompson forced York manager Martin Nash into a makeshift backline that included three players — with Johnny Grant covering a centreback. The fullbacks especially struggled to keep possession, often resulting in turnovers in bad areas.

It is telling that both Valour goals — and several other excellent chances — came from crosses into the box that were not dealt with properly.

“There was a bit of miscommunication, it is tough because they haven’t worked together, haven’t played together yet. So it is what it is right now, and we will have a look at the performance before Wednesday,” said Nash.

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Diego Gutiérrez, Valour FC 

The player of the match could easily have been any member of the Valour midfield trio. But with a little bit more freedom to get forward than he did last year, Gutiérrez was excellent and looks like he will be able to have a bigger impact on matches at both ends of the pitch this season now that Valour’s midfield promises to have a little more balance.

What’s next?

York United will be right back at York Lions Stadium on Wednesday for a Canadian Championship battle against expansion side Vancouver FC (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). Valour, meanwhile, heads out to the west coast where they will face League1 BC champions TSS Rovers in Vancouver (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT).