York United exacted some cruel 905 Derby revenge Wednesday, besting their Ontario rivals Forge FC 1-0 in Hamilton’s 2021 CanPL home opener at Tim Hortons Field.
Alvaro Rivero’s 54th-minute opening goal and later sending off were the most notable moments from a match jam-packed with controversial calls, chances, and end-to-end football.
Forge, fresh off beating York 1-0 in a reverse fixture on Friday was forced to change their gameplan in the 15th minute when stalwart defensive midfielder Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson left the match due to a head injury. Paolo Sabak took his place, changing the midfield complexion much earlier than coach Bobby Smyrniotis would have hoped.
FORGE 0, YORK UNITED 1 COVERAGE: CanPL.ca Analysis, Sights & Sounds, JACK: No more ace to play for Forge after losing irreplaceable Achinioti-Jonsson
York enjoyed a solid spell following the early substitution. Michael Petrasso slipped through the midfield off a bum pass and attempted a difficult through-the legs feed on a two-on-one, ending their best chance of the game to that point. A similar play came in the 30th minute, when Cedric Toussaint dispossessed a Forge player and released Petrasso. His right-footed shot was parried by Triston Henry and stood as the only York shot to find the target in the first half.
Tim Hortons Field erupted like a long-dormant volcano in the 25th minute when Josh Navarro hit the deck inside the 18-yard box but referee Fabrizio Stasolla dashed their hopes at a penalty, instead carding the Costa Rican for simulation. Forge would later be given a penalty in the 40th minute when Borges smartly drew the foul after side-stepping Toussaint’s play at the ball. His spot-kick was saved by Ingham, firing up the Nine Stripes.
Forge settled into a first-half grove in the slower, newly-installed turf, grabbing 69.5% possession through the first 45 minutes – the most of any half this season by quite some margin. Their best chance from open play came when weekend 905 Derby goalscorer Mo Babouli took a ball over the top and, while one-on-one with Ingham, dinked the ball off the far post, leaving the match scoreless.
York managed to feed off scraps left by Forge’s midfield all match, winning the ball high and trying to generate chances direct – that’s exactly how Alvaro Rivero scored the match’s opening goal in the 53rd minute. Noah Verhoeven caused an errant headed clearance that landed in the Spaniard’s lap just outside of the 18-yard box. Rivero charged towards goal and clunked an opener off Henry’s attempted save.
GOAL ?@YorkUtdFC open the scoring vs. @ForgeFCHamilton in this 905 Derby rematch, as Alvaro Rivero slips through the Forge backline before finishing well #CanPL | ? https://t.co/hishXeHsKB pic.twitter.com/deTGcyHzA2
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) August 5, 2021
From there, the Nine Stripes looked favourites to win. Substitute Osvaldo Ramirez was unfairly called offside on a golden opportunity a few minutes after the goal as Jimmy Brennan’s side grew confident… but it didn’t last long.
Rivero was sent off in the 64th minute when he impeded a Forge free-kick, sending Stasolla to his pocket twice for a second yellow card offense.
RED CARD ?
Well, this is familiar – @YorkUtdFC go down to 10 men vs. @ForgeFCHamilton as Alvaro Rivero is sent off with a second yellow for impeding a free kick
Can the Nine Stripes hold on with a 1-0 lead? #CanPL | ? https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/svb5gsnvm5
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) August 5, 2021
Forge stepped their foot on the accelerator for the remaining 20-odd minutes. Their best chance came in the final 15 minutes when Babouli’s shot was blocked by a sliding Dominick Zator and cleared – one of an astounding 11 clearances on the night.
The result gave York some much-deserved revenge for Friday’s result at York Lions Stadium – their home opener – as they spoiled the party in the two-time champion’s long-awaited return home.
BOX SCORE
Goals
54′ — Alvaro Rivero (York United)
Discipline
5′ – Yellow: Chrisnovic N’sa (York United)
25′ – Yellow: Josh Navarro (Forge FC)
41′ – Yellow: Alvaro Rivero (York United)
64′ – Second Yellow: Alvaro Rivero (York United)
76′ – Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
81′ – Yellow: Nik Giantsopoulos (York United)