Valour FC spoiled York United’s home opener with a 2-0 victory to conclude the opening weekend of the Canadian Premier League’s fifth season.
An own goal from York defender Jonathan Grant, and a clever finish from Anthony Novak gave the visitors the three points, while Rayane Yesli kept a clean sheet in the Valour net.
The Winnipeg side found joy down the flanks early in the match, with Andy Baquero whipping in several dangerous crosses. Their first real chance came in the tenth minute when Pacifique Niyongabire got in behind the York backline and sent a dangerous ball across the goalmouth that the Winnipeg side was unable to turn in a Diego Gutiérrez was tackled at the back post.
In the 18th minute, Raphael Ohin broke through the lines himself and fired a shot from distance which ultimately didn’t trouble Niko Giantsopoulos in net. York had their first real chance a few moments later as a Mo Babouli free kick was missed by both teams in the box and went narrowly wide of Rayane Yesli’s post.
Brem Soumaoro thought he had opened the scoring in the 34th minute on a second-phase volley after a clever corner routine from York United, but he was ultimately deemed to be offside.
The fact that there were 13 players combined between the two clubs who were playing their first competitive match for their respective sides, which was evident throughout the half, especially in the attacking third. Valour had another good chance in the 41st minute but Ohin and Niyongabire had a miscommunication and were unable to finish off a very good chance. There was ultimately just a single shot on target, which came in the 45th minute, between the two sides in the first half.
York United was quick off the mark in the second half, as Max Ferrari broke through into the Valour box, before colliding with Yesli. The Valour keeper stayed down for several minutes but was ultimately cleared to continue.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring, however, as after Dante Campbell had his cross blocked, Raphael Ohin sent one into a dangerous area in the York box. York defender Grant tried to block the ball going across, but ultimately redirected it into his own net in the 51st minute.
Two minutes later, Valour struck again. Niyongabire broke down the right flank and played a perfect cross into the path of Novak, whose delicate finish doubled the visitor’s lead.
After the second goal, York made a pair of attacking substitutions, bringing on 2022 leading goalscorer Osaze De Rosario and new signing Clément Bayiha. That latter nearly had an instant impact as he cut down the right and sent in a low-driven cross which bounced around the box but was recovered by Valour before any damage could be done.
As the clock ticked down York grew more and more aggressive, peppering Yesli with shots. De Rosario had the best chance, but his shot to the Valour goalkeeper’s left was brilliantly parried away.
Valour came close to adding a third goal late, but both Baquero and Gutiérrez were denied by Giantsopolous. In added time, York finally beat Yesli, only to be denied by the crossbar.
It was the first time Valour has won their opening match of the season outside of Winnipeg since their first-ever match in the Canadian Premier League against Pacific in 2019.
BOX SCORE
Goals
51′ — Jonathan Grant (York United) — Own goal
53′ — Anthony Novak (Valour FC)
Discipline
16′ — Yellow: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (York United)
26′ — Yellow: Raphael Ohin (Valour FC)
31′ — Yellow: Andy Baquero (Valour FC)
46′ — Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
65′ — Yellow: Jonathan Grant (York United)
80′ — Yellow: Brian Wright (York United)
83′ — Yellow: Dante Campbell (Valour FC)
90′ +2 — Yellow: Rayane Yesli (Valour FC)