May 10, 2023...Preview: Nine Stripes Look to Dig Deep and Deliver Special Result Against The Whitecaps
(from York United FC website)
PREVIEW: NINE STRIPES LOOK TO DIG DEEP AND DELIVER SPECIAL RESULT AGAINST THE WHITECAPS
The teams meet at York Lions Stadium tonight in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Championship.
REACHING THE SUMMIT
In geography, the higher you go the cooler it becomes. But in football, it’s the stark opposite. York United face a daunting task
- eliminating the defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps from the Canadian Championship at the quarter-final stage.
With the MLS boys in town, Head Coach Martin Nash says the motivation for his York United players to cause a Cupset
should be intrinsic.
"Absolutely and I think they've all got that mindset. You want to test yourself against the best and out yourself in the
shop window. Every single player wants to get to a higher level and this is an opportunity to test yourself. You have
a good game here and you never know what can happen," Nash - a former Whitecaps captain - said in his pre-match conference.
The two sides met last year at the semi-final stage at BC Place where the 'Caps sneaked past The Nine Stripes 2-1
after a scoreless first half.
From the squad who made the trip to the west coast last June, only three players - Niko Giantsopoulos, Max Ferrari
and Osaze De Rosario - are still on Nash’s current roster.
The hosts must lay their run of three consecutive home defeats in the league to rest and make their backyard advantage work.
A confident-sounding Nash added:
"The guys want to go on a cup run. We want to do it every year. It's a chance to play against a quality opponent. If we manage
to get a result on Wednesday and get through, I think it gives us a lift as a group. I don't really think that any bad can
come from the game no matter how it goes. I think we've just got to go in there, put in an effort and believe in ourselves
and each other. It's not impossible to get a result. It's happened before and it's gonna happen again." It looks like Nash
will have some good news from the treatment room and field some of his regulars in the starting line-up.
RETURNING FACES
In last Friday's derby defeat against Forge, skipper Roger Thompson returned to the pitch for his first game of the campaign
and played over an hour, with the side missing this season’s regular centre backs Brem Soumaoro and Jonathan Grant.
Australian-import Tass Mourdoukoutas also made a cameo from the bench, as he continued his recovery from a groin injury.
Mo Babouli’s return to the group will be a major boost, likewise the availability of midfielder Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare.
With a clean bill of health, Thompson believes the team can cause an upset and get their season back on track.
He said: "Obviously we've had guys playing out of position for the first three/four games. Now we're getting some bodies back.
Myself and Tass, we're a big part of the team. We're our main centre backs so obviously when you're in the team, things look
differently out there. Hopefully, we can stay fit going forward, be a big part of the team and start winning some games."
OPPONENT WATCH
Vancouver Whitecaps have got two wins from their last five matches in all competitions.
Striker Brian White remains a doubt for this fixture after suffering a thigh injury in their MLS game against Minnesota United.
Head Coach Vanni Sartini in his pre-game talk said: "It’s a very organized team. It’s not a flashy team but it’s very organized,”
he said. “When we attack, we have to be really structured because we don’t have to give them the possibility of quick counterattacks."
Ridwan Ibrahim Asante
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