August 13, 2023...Analysis: Fireworks in the 905 Derby (from York United FC website)

ANALYSIS: FIREWORKS IN THE 905 DERBY

York United FC and Forge FC split the points following a 3-3 draw at Tim Hortons Field

THE DETAILS

Four thoughts on Saturday's 905 derby between Forge FC and York United FC at Tim Hortons Field, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

A CLASSIC 905 DERBY

Saturday’s derby clash was a good advertisement for the Canadian Premier League. Both teams were highly competitive and that reflected in the topsy-turvy scoreline. York had to rally twice after falling behind and eventually took the lead in the 70th minute through Mo Babouli. A controversial penalty awarded to Forge in the 76th minute allowed Terran Campbell to tie the game for the home side. The Hammers were denied a winner late, when York’s Noah Abatneh cleared a goal-bound ball off the line in the 82nd minute.

Nash was thrilled with the quality of football despite losing the 2023 season series against Forge 1-1-2.

“Both teams gave everything and I think the last two weeks for us, the fans have gone away happy but we haven’t,” Nash said. “But at the end of the day, I thought once they scored the third, we had to shut up shop and get out of here with a draw like we did last week and just try to grow from the performance.

“We had to fight tooth and nail although we did have some chances later. I'm told Austin [Ricci] was on the side late and obviously we didn't get that call either. It would have been on goal so, some frustrating things that maybe didn't go our way tonight but I got to applaud my guys for their performance, their effort. They gave everything for me and we just got to keep with this mentality and attitude and I truly believe in this group.”

A QUESTIONABLE PENALTY

Along with an offside call against Ricci, Martin Nash struggled to come to terms with referee Michael Venne’s decision to award Forge the game-tying penalty. Campbell struck the ball against Abatneh’s left arm, which was held close to the defender’s body. Campbell’s spot-kick was initially saved by York debutant Adisa De Rosario, but the striker was quick to convert the rebound. The penalty allowed the defending champions to cancel the Babouli header that had given York its lone lead.

“I am ecstatic with the second half we had,” Nash said. “I thought we were lethargic in the first half. Second half we were very good and I think we deserved to win that. The last two goals, I thought we had a foul up the field that wasn't called and they scored off it and I don't know where [Abatneh’s] arm is supposed to go? Down the side and it’s from the elbow, it's never a pen for me for proximity. So I think we're unlucky not to walk away with three points in the end.”

A DEBUT DERBY TO REMEMBER

It was a baptism of fire for the young goalkeeper De Rosario, playing his first match for York since signing with the Nine Stripes on loan last week. The debutant put in a decent performance despite conceding three goals. He showed some nerves when he was first called upon, struggling to grab a Kyle Bekker cross into the box in the sixth minute, but he grew into the game after that.

He was vocal and did his best to command his penalty area. He produced a decent effort early in the second half to stop a powerful left-footer from outside the box by Forge's Tristen Borges. In the 81st minute, De Rosario was dispossessed by Campbell when he tried to dribble past the striker. The mistake nearly resulted in a fourth and game-winning goal for the home side, but Abatneh made a goal-line clearance to maintain the draw.

York midfielder Jeremy Gagnon-Laparé revealed how the squad helped the 18 year old settle in ahead of his first assignment.

“I think he's a good enough player where we didn't have to tell him that much,” Gagnon-Laparé said. “I think everyone just told him, ‘Just be yourself.’ He had been training with me last season at Halifax [Wanderers] and he was doing really well. So, I wasn't scared at all for him. Obviously every time you're gonna come into a new team there are moments where you just have to get to know the players around you and he's done his first game now and he's done brilliantly. I think he almost stopped the penalty at the end so I think the more minutes he's gonna get, the better he's gonna feel.”

ANOTHER RESULT ON THE ROAD

The Nine Stripes once again proved their prowess on the road with yet another brave performance. This follows last week’s spirited performance in the capital against Atlético Ottawa, which also ended in a six-goal thriller. York has improved to five wins, three draws and three defeats on away grounds.

York had to dig deep to earn the point, said Gagnon-Laparé.

''It's always tough when you play against them,” he said. “They're very well organized and you sense that they have a clear identity of how they want to control the ball, especially when they're going forward. So yeah, you just got to try to do your best, try to limit who is on the ball but that's not always easy, but fortunately, we managed to do that in the second half and I think the result kind of reflects that."

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

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