York United are off the mark in 2024 after picking up their first victory of the CPL season, 3-0 over Vancouver FC at York Lions Stadium on Friday night.

Brian Wright scored a brace, and set up Dennis Salanović for his first CPL goal during a dominant second half from the Nine Stripes. It was the first loss of the season for Vancouver FC, who continue to struggle away from home to start 2024.

The match quickly got heated, as a pair of heavy tackles, first Elijah Adekugbe on Vasco Fry, and then Fry on Frank Sturing, saw the two sides come together inside the opening ten minutes. Fry was ultimately shown a yellow card for his challenge on Sturing, who was making his first appearance for the Nine Stripes.

But both sides quickly settled into their respective shapes as the opening stages of the match saw a cagey midfield battle between the two duelling 4-4-2 formations. Vancouver enjoyed the majority of the possession but were unable to break through a well-organized York side through the opening half hour.

The visitors had a solid look at the goal just before the half, as former York United player Paris Gee played a lovely ball into the box for Moses Dyer. The striker, however, couldn’t keep his headed effort down, and the score remained 0-0 at the half.

Vancouver made a pair of subs to start the second half with Renan Garcia and Tyler Crawford replacing TJ Tahid and James Cameron.

The Nine Stripes won a number of corners during the opening portion of the second half, but were largely unable to create any significant chances from them. York made a double change of their own shortly thereafter, bringing on Dennis Salanović and Josué Martinez in the 66th minute.

Salanović had a decent chance moments after he came in as Max Ferrari got himself in behind and squared for the Liechtenstein international. His strike, however, sailed well over the bar. Ferrari broke in behind again a few moments later but couldn’t find a York player in the box.

Those proved to be warning signs, however, as Córdova, Ferrari and Brem Soumaoro combined with a clever bit of interplay down the right in the 73rd minute. Córdova broke into the box, and put in a deflected low cross that Wright tapped home to put York up 1-0.

Wright nearly added a second in the 79th minute as York won the ball high up the pitch and it fell to the York striker. His curling strike, however, was saved by Vancouver keeper Callum Irving onto the post.

But York wouldn’t be denied as this time Wright turned provider, beating Norman in the box before squaring to Salanović. This time the York winger made no mistake and put his team up 2-0.

Wright capped off a fantastic night for the Nine Stripes as he got onto the end of a Clément Bayiha through ball, walked around Irving and showed brilliant composure to add a second for himself and a third for the hosts.

It was the first time that York United have scored three goals at home in a match since September 23, 2022. The win will give the Nine Stripes a massive confidence boost as they head into a midweek Canadian Championship fixture against Forge FC, who beat them 3-0 the last time they were out.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

York United: Vincensini; Córdova (Bayiha 83′), Sturing, Abatneh (Higgins 83′), Botello; Ferrari, Adekugbe (Martínez 66′), Soumaoro, Babouli; Ricci (Salanović 66′), Wright 

Vancouver FC: Irving; Cameron (Crawford 45′ ((Cantave 71′)), Romeo, Norman, Gee; Bitar, Fry (Fisk 77′), Kibato, Tahid (Garcia 45′); Díaz (Navarro 71′), Dyer 

Goals

73′ — Brian Wright (York United)
84′ — Dennis Salanović (York United)
90+2′ — Brian Wright (York United) 

Discipline

10′ — Yellow: Vasco Fry (Vancouver FC)
28′ — Yellow: Kembo Kibato (Vancouver FC)
74′ — Yellow: Renan Garcia (Vancouver FC)
85′ — Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
87′ — Yellow: Dennis Salanović (York United)