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PREVIEW: Valour FC vs. FC Edmonton — Match #6

Canadian Premier League — Match #6
Valour FC vs. FC Edmonton FC
May 4, 2019 — Investors Group Field (6 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. CT)
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca (Pre-show begins at 5:30 p.m. ET)

Winnipeg will round out the CPL’s historical triple-header Saturday with Valour FC welcoming FC Edmonton in the club’s home opener.

The evening match at Investors Group Field will be FC Edmonton’s first match since 2017 and their first in the CPL.

Despite FCE’s maiden voyage, the majority of attention will be placed on the home side, who return to Winnipeg on a high after winning their inaugural match 2-1 away to Pacific FC on Wednesday. Stephen Hoyle and second-half substitute Dylan Carerro were amongst the goals at Westhills.

FC Edmonton comes in fresh, having seen Valour play and following a short travel day to Winnipeg. Head coach Jeff Paulus promises to play fast, attacking football, using players like winger Randy Edwini-Bonsu and midfielder James Marcelin to stretch play and create chances.

Valour will have another quick turnaround following Saturday’s match, eying a Wednesday away trip to Cavalry FC ( 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT, OneSoccer). The Eddies will have the full week to prepare for their club’s CPL home opener on Sunday, May 12 against Pacific FC (3:30 ET/1:30PT, One Soccer).

 

KEYS TO THE MATCH

  • Three at the back, again?: Rob Gale trotted out a three-man backline for his team’s first match, which made sense if you’re trying to neutralize the threat of a point-man like Marcus Haber; but with FC Edmonton’s 4-3-3, that formation runs the risk of being overrun by fast, dynamic attackers, of which the Eddies boast, in spades. As such, Gale will need to decide between sticking to what worked the first time, or adjusting to compensate for the additional attackers his side will be facing.
  • Tomi up top?: Before laying out his plan, Gale will need to assess who FC Edmonton actually starts up top, though. The Eddies’ main striker, Tomi Ameobi, missed training on Wednesday with a knock, and Paulus only offered that his inclusion will come down to a “game-time decision” – without Ameobi, Edmonton’s game-plan will need to change, with Randy Edwini-Bonsu likely slotting into centre-forward.
  • Neutralize Beland-G oyette: So much of Valour’s success in midfield against Pacific FC came down to Louis Beland-Goyette’s ability to control possession, turn on a dime, and spread the ball out wide to Michael Petrasso in one clean motion … and Edmonton will be aware of that, from the game tape. Making sure Beland-Goyette doesn’t have the luxuries of space or time on the ball can be the difference between a no-nonsense attacking stop, or a dangerous situation, developed quickly in transition.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Valour FC: Tyson Farago; Nicolás Galvis, Martín Arguiñarena, Skylar Thomas, Jordan Murrell, Diego Gutiérrez; Louis Béland-Goyette, Josip Golubar, Dylan Sacramento; Michael Petrasso, Stephen Hoyle

FC Edmonton: Connor James: Kareem Moses, Amir Didic, Mele Temguia, Allan Zebie; Ramon Soria, Son Yongchan, James Marcelin; Randy Edwini-Bonsu, Marcus Velado, Tomi Ameobi


HEAD-TO-HEAD

First meeting between these clubs

STATS LEADERS 

Stephen Hoyle, Dylan Carreiro (Valour) – 1 goal

INJURIES

Tomi Ameobi (FC Edmonton) – questionable

INTERNATIONAL DUTY

None

SUSPENSIONS

None

ACCUMULATION

None

REFEREES

Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Assistant Referees: Peter Manastyrsky & Graham Forsyth
4th Official: Nicolas Joubert