June 3, 2023...Preview: Valour FC vs York United - 2023 Match #33 (from canpl.ca)
PREVIEW: Valour FC vs. York United — 2023 Match #33
2023-06-03
by BENEDICT RHODES, CANPL.CA CONTRIBUTOR (@BTFR17)
CPL Regular Season — Match #33
Valour FC vs. York United
June 4, 2023 at 2 pm CT / 3 pm ET
IG Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba
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The final match of the weekend in the Canadian Premier League will take place at IG Field in Winnipeg on Sunday, as Valour FC
host high-flying York United.
The Nine Stripes have won three matches in a row — beating the Halifax Wanderers 3-0 on the road on May 20, Cavalry FC 1-0
at home last weekend, and 2-1 away to Forge FC midweek. After a bit of a shaky start to their season, Martin Nash’s team
will want to keep that going, and improve their game as well — three wins from three is impressive of course, but York
will be keen to make better use of the chances they create — with both Osaze De Rosario and Brian Wright still goalless
through eight matches.
Brem Soumaoro’s match-winning wondergoal in the final moments of the 905 Derby on Wednesday will surely be a Goal
of the Season
contender as well.
Valour have played well to start the season too, but are keen to start turning draws into wins. After winning their opening
game of the season, Valour have drawn five matches and lost once — a 3-2 defeat on the road at Tim Hortons Field that they
were disappointed not to pick up at least one point in, if not more.
Sunday’s match will be the second meeting of the season between the two sides. The aforementioned lone Valour win came
on the opening weekend of the 2023 season, a 2-0 victory at York Lions Stadium on two quick goals at the start of the
second half — an own goal from Jonny Grant and a second from Anthony Novak to double their lead on the road.
York entered the weekend in second place, behind rivals Forge FC. Valour came into this matchweek in fifth, holding onto
the final playoff spot for the time being, but both sides are well aware that there is still 75 per cent of the season still
to be played, and just a few points between all of the clubs.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
York looking to continue great form: York United enter Sunday’s match in Winnipeg on a three-game winning streak. Even more
impressive is that the three teams they beat — the Halifax Wanderers, Cavalry FC, Forge FC — were all unbeaten still when
the Nine Stripes played them. Across those three games York have scored six goals, a steady improvement from the three they
scored across their first five matches. Martin Nash’s team are hitting their stride at an important, albeit still relatively
early, part of the season, and will look to keep that going on Sunday. Valour FC have historically played very well at IG Field,
and will be looking for their first home win of the season, making for what should be an entertaining clash.
Rayane Yesli maturing into one of the league’s top goalkeepers: After showing glimpses toward the end of last season of what
he could do, Valour FC goalkeeper Rayane Yesli has taken a big step forward in 2023 as he is given the starting job on a full
time basis. In 2021, Yesli had to battle for minutes behind one of the best goalkeepers in league history, Jonathan Sirois,
but toward the end of the season, Phil Dos Santos gave Yesli more opportunities to play as it became clear he would
be the starter in 2023 after Sirois returned from his loan to parent club CF Montréal. In 2023, Yesli — who has played every
minute for the Winnipeg club — entered the weekend with the most saves of any goalkeeper in the CPL with 26, and a tie for
the league lead in clean sheets with three. He has used his big frame to his advantage as well, making some important,
athletic stops to keep his team in games. As Valour get several defenders back from injury, they will also be keen to improve
an already-solid defensive record and try to prevent as many shots from testing Yesli.
Difference-makers Grant, Jean-Baptiste called up to Gold Cup preliminary squads: The preliminary 60-man squads for
the 2023 Gold Cup were revealed on Thursday, and several active CPL players were included on the rosters for their respective
national teams. Among them are defenders from the two teams squaring off on Sunday — York United’s Jonny Grant and Valour FC’s
Andrew Jean-Baptiste, for Guyana and Haiti, respectively. Grant, playing well in his first season with the Nine Stripes after
four years at Forge FC, made his Guyana debut earlier this year after previously representing Canada at the U23 level,
and will be looking to make his first appearance at a major tournament with the nation his parents were born in. Jean-Baptiste
on the other hand has already made 12 appearances for Haiti, scoring twice. One of the best defenders in the CPL when
he’s fit, Jean-Baptiste is yet to play a competitive minute in 2023 after suffering a groin injury in preseason, but his
inclusion is a sign that he is close to returning, and has a lot of respect from the Haitian coaching staff. Phil Dos Santos
confirmed to CanPL.ca on Friday that the man they call AJB is back in full training, and could feature in the coming matches.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Valour (4-3-3): Yesli; Baquero, Cela, Samaké, de Brienne; Campbell, Polisi, Gutiérrez; Niyongabire, Novak, Williams
York United (4-2-3-1): Giantsopoulos; Grant, Gee, Mourdoukoutas, Faye; Soumaoro, Alou; Ferrari, Babouli, Bayiha; De Rosario
ALL-TIME SERIES
Valour FC wins: 7 || York United wins: 5 || Draws: 1
Last meeting:
April 16, 2023 — York United 0-2 Valour FC
KEY QUOTES
“We need to keep doing the little things that we’ve done that are good. Keep doing them and stay consistent, and after that it’s
take our opportunities. I think that we’re getting too good of chances not to finish and not to win games.” — Valour FC
head coach Phil Dos Santos
“They’re really organised. I love that they play with passion, they’re a team that fights for every inch. They’re difficult
to play against, they’ve shown that so far this year, and it’s not going to be an easy game. We’re going to have to go there
and be prepared for a war.” — York United head coach Martin Nash
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