On a snowy Friday night in Edmonton, FC Edmonton and York United would split the spoils in a 1-1 draw, one that saw them trade late goals in an exciting but feisty clash at Clarke Stadium.

Diyaeddine Abzi would nearly open the scoring for York in the 16th minute, as he lined up a dangerous free-kick just at the edge of the box, and he’d unleash a dangerous strike, one that would only be kept out by the fingertips of Edmonton’s goalkeeper, Andreas Vaikla.

At the other end, Edmonton wouldn’t find their first chance of the game until the 33rd minute, as Tobias Warschewski had a sighter from distance, but his shot would sail well over the goal. Right after that, York’s Jordan Wilson would have an attempt of his own in the 34th minute, but he too would see his shot sail wide, although in his case it would be due to a deflection.

Then, right before half time, York would have their best look of the game up to that point in the 44th minute, as Abzi did well to find Osaze De Rosario all alone in the box with a low cross, but De Rosario wouldn’t be able to sort out his feet in time, sending his shot well off target.

Less than a minute later, Edmonton would also come the closest that they’d come all half, as Warschewski would unleash a dangerous free-kick from distance, one that’d sail towards the top corner, where it’d only be kept out of the net by York’s Niko Giantsopolous in goal.

On the other side of halftime, York would come out strong, coming close to scoring in the 50th minute. After a dangerous corner kick, the ball would find Roger Thompson at the back post, and he’d do well to flick it to Wilson at the edge of the six-yard box, but despite being left unmarked, the York midfielder would send his header right at Giantsopolous.

Shortly after, Warschewski would come close once again off yet another free kick in the 56th minute, this one coming right at the edge of the box, as he’d unleash a vicious curled shot, one that’d bend just past the near post.

Continuing a busy start to the half, Abzi would get a decent look in the 60th minute after a nice run into the box, but he’d send a slashing shot just wide of the mark from in tight. Then, in a 5-minute span right after that, Noah Verhoeven and De Rosario would have left-footed shots from distance, but Vaikla would manage to stop both.

Right after that, Edmonton would start to find some chances, as Azriel Gonzalez sent a shot from distance just over the goal, before second-half sub, Masta Kacher, would also send a shot over the mark in the 77th minute.

But then, York would find their breakthrough late on, coming in the 81st minute. In transition, the ball would fall to De Rosario in space outside of the box, and he’d do well to sort out his feet before unleashing a rocket, one that’d fly into the top corner with authority to give his team the lead.

Despite the game seeming over at that point, however, Edmonton would find a way to muster up an almost immediate response in the 83rd minute. After a nice ball into the box, the ball would fall to Cj Smith, and he’d slide the ball over to Kacher, who’d manage to slot a nice curled shot into the bottom corner for the equalizer.

And fittingly, given the late fireworks, both teams would then come together after a hard tackle in the 87th minute, leading to a melee that saw several players booked,  including Edmonton’s Smith, who’d be sent off after being given a red card for violent conduct.

From there, however, that’d be all that either team would have to give, leaving them to share the points despite late pushes from both sides.

BOX SCORE:

Goals

81’ – Osaze De Rosario (York United)

83’ – Masta Kacher (FC Edmonton)

Discipline

23’ – Yellow: Jordan Wilson (York United)

25’ – Yellow: Roger Thompson (York United)

55’ – Yellow: Dominick Zator (York United)

87’ – Yellow: Diyaeddine Abzi (York United)

87’ – Yellow: Niko Giantsopolous (York United)

87’ – Red: Cj Smith (York United)