September 4, 2023...Match Analysis: York United inch in front of Halifax in CPL playoff face after colossal win
at the Wanderers Grounds (from canpl.ca)
MATCH ANALYSIS: York United inch in front of Halifax in CPL playoff race after colossal win at the Wanderers Grounds
2023-09-04
by MITCHELL TIERNEY, DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER (@MITCHELLTIERNEY)
Final Score: HFX Wanderers 1-2 York United
Goalscorers: Perruzza 31'; Ricci 45' +2', Thompson 63'
Game of the 2023 season: 89
CPL match: 456
Match in a minute or less
For the second straight week, York United overcame an early goal to pick up a 2-1 victory. This time, however, the stakes
were significantly higher as three points meant the Nine Stripes leaping over Halifax Wanderers in the standing on the
total wins tiebreaker and securing their third straight victory at the Wanderers Grounds against a key rival in the race
for the playoffs.
An early goal by Jordan Perruzza in the 31st minute looked like it might be a harbinger of yet another home victory for
the Wanderers, but York United equalized just before the stroke of halftime through Austin Ricci. Captain Roger Thompson
scored his first CPL goal, on a rare York goal on an attacking set piece in the 63rd minute to provide the match-winner.
The Nine Stripes have now collected a league-leading 21 points on the road, and only Forge have as many wins (six) as York
have now managed away this season in 13 matches. Despite the loss, and the drop into sixth place and out of the playoffsx
Halifax remains level on points with Atlético Ottawa and York and still very much in the playoff race, with six matches
remaining. The Nine Stripes meanwhile, have five — the next four of which come at York Lions Stadium.
Three Observations
York United hop Halifax in the standings, U-21 minutes leaderboard, during pivotal victory
For a myriad of reasons, Monday was a monumental day for York United’s 2023 season.
Their sixth road victory of the season came in one of, if not the toughest, road environments in the league. It saw them
push marginally ahead of a Halifax side who they will be racing with for the league’s final playoff spots for the rest
of the season.
It also saw them pass Halifax in the league’s U-21 minutes leaderboard –taking a big step forward towards their required
2,000 to be eligible for the CPL playoffs. Adisa De Rosario and Noah Abatneh both played the full 90 minutes, while
Trivine Esprit and Carson Buschman-Dormond came off the bench and combined for over 215 U-21 minutes. Halifax, meanwhile,
earned only about 25.
What is crucial for York United as well is that those young players continue to produce under pressure. De Rosario was
very solid again for York, especially on a brilliant one-v-one save on João Morelli that essentially saved the game for
the Nine Stripes. He made four saves in total and showed excellent composure late in the match when claiming difficult
crosses and balls into the box.
“The boys did unreal, the young guys that came in,” said York attacker Austin Ricci after the match. “Adisa came in
and looked like a man, and Noah played like a man as well. They didn’t look like young boys out there. So as long as they
continue to do that we will be solid going forward.”
The team in general showed good energy again, winning possession seven times in the final third. They also did a good
job, especially when seeing out the result in the second half, of disrupting the flow of the match and not allowing
Halifax to be comfortable on the ball.
After a more open first half, York were able to adjust defensively and do a better job at eliminating the wide attacking
areas where Halifax had generated a large number of their chances. They were incredibly strong defensively in general
in the second half, allowing the hosts to record just 0.19 expected goals on seven shots attempted.
Especially early in the second half, York really went on the front foot looking the more likely of the two sides
to break the halftime deadlock by putting Halifax under some serious pressure. They were rewarded when Doneil Henry
committed a foul just outside the box in the 61st minute, and Mo Babouli’s outstanding cross found the head
of Roger Thompson for the match-winner.
York United manager Martin Nash showed rare emotion after the match, pumping his fists and celebrating loudly after
the full-time whistle, as did a number of his players, knowing just how big of a moment this could be in their season.
“It was a massive game for us, we knew we couldn’t come here and lose,” said Nash after the match. “We put pressure
on ourselves to come here and win, or go for the win, which we did and were able to get it. There’s relief because
we had to see out a game, they were on top of us for the last 15 minutes or so but I thought our guys did a good job,
didn’t really give them much of a chance in that period. So a lot of relief, emotion, we are still in the race and just
got to keep fighting.”
Is Austin Ricci the answer at number nine for York United?
Perhaps other than their glacial collection of U-21 Canadian minutes, the biggest story surrounding York United this
season has been a lack of production at the number nine position. After finishing runner-up in the Golden Boot race
last season, Osaze De Rosario was perhaps the favourite to take home the honour this year heading into the year.
Brian Wright, meanwhile, had been a reliable option for regular season champions Atlético Ottawa in 2022. De Rosario,
however, has scored just three goals this season, while Wright has found the back of the net twice despite both being
high in the league in terms of expected goals.
Instead, York’s offensive production this season has largely come from Mo Babouli, and their wide attackers, of late.
Clément Bayiha and Kévin Santos have been outstanding on the wings for York, meaning that despite being in good form
himself veteran Austin Ricci — who has been deployed as a left winger this season by Nash — has largely been relegated
to the bench.
After Ricci scored a late winner against Vancouver last weekend, however, Nash found a solution by playing Ricci in his
natural position, as a number nine. This kept Santos and Bayiha on the pitch, and the York coach was rewarded for his
decision when Ricci scored just before half-time.
“I was buzzing about that, I haven’t started as a striker in about two years,” said Ricci after the match. “So, been
kind of waiting for that moment this whole season so it came and I took advantage of it. Hopefully, there is more to come.”
Ricci’s offensive positioning also allowed York to play quite fluidly through the front three, with him drifting wides
at times when Santos or Bayiha moved centrally. This gave different looks in attack that drew Halifax out of their shape,
it also meant when Osaze De Rosario checked into the match in the late going Ricci could remain on the pitch and shift
back out wide.
“It gives other teams something to think about when you’ve got guys that are dynamic and can move around, play multiple
positions,” said Ricci. “But it also helps in a situation like this where you are up late in a game, guys get injured,
guys go down and you are able to adjust things and put guys in multiple spots in order to like see out a game or do
whatever you have to do to take the points. So it is very helpful.”
Here is a look at Ricci’s touch map throughout the match, showing just how many positions he took up throughout
his 90 minutes of action.
“He gives us a threat in behind, he’s a poacher who knows how to find the back of the net, I thought his energy was
real good today and he got a goal and I thought it was a solid performance from him,” said Nash.
On top of his goal, Ricci finished the match with four shots, a chance created and eight total duels attempted as he
was a thorn in the side of the Halifax backline throughout the match.
Doniel Henry’s first start with Halifax doesn’t go to plan as they suffer a humbling home loss
With Cale Loughrey suspended for this match, the stars aligned for one of the highest-profile signings in the league
this season, Doneil Henry, to make his first start for the Halifax Wanderers.
It had quite a promising first act, as Henry made some key defensive interventions, as well as playing a long ball
forward that was critical to Halifax opening the scoring through Jordan Perruzza’s first CPL goal in the 31st minute.
“I think he was really solid back there, just really vocal and doing what he does,” said Halifax captain Mohamed Omar.
“He’s a Canadian international for a reason, and he’s had the storied career that he has had for a reason.”
However, York United had no interest in making Monday a feel-good story on Labour Day in Halifax, as they took advantage
of a few defensive miscues from the Wanderers to spoil Doneil Henry’s full debut.
Gheisar believes the real turning point of the match was the late first-half goal that Halifax allowed after a solid
performance prior to stoppage time in which they had several chances to be up by more than a single goal. He said after
that goal you could hear a pin drop both in the stadium and among his players and that they never truly recovered
from that moment.
“When they scored that goal last second, we came out, our players were quiet and the stadium was quiet,” said Gheisar.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to tell our supporters and us, I don’t know what’s the difference if they score
in the 47th, 42nd, 35th or 22nd. It’s a goal. I don’t know what’s the difference if it is a second before half-time
or if it is 20 minutes.”
Halifax, however, will have to quickly recover from this loss as they travel out west for yet another six-point match
on Friday, this time against Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium. With just six matches remaining in their season, they
cannot afford more slipups like Monday.
“This is the stretch where we really see what team we can be,” said Omar. “Three more games in the span of roughly
12 days now, so we look to pick up as many points as we can and we are going to regroup and just focus on the next match.”
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Tass Mourdoukoutas, York United
While his central defensive partner might take all of the headlines with his match-winning goal, the Australian was
critical to York’s three points. He assisted on the opening goal with a dangerous ball into the box that Ricci was able
to get on the end of, while making ten clearances and two interceptions.
What’s next?
It is a big week for Halifax ahead as they fly across the country to take on Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium on Friday,
September 8 (11:00 p.m. AT /10:00 p.m. ET). York, meanwhile, host Valour early that day in the first of four straight matches
at York Lions Stadium (7:00 p.m. ET).
Watch all CPL matches live on OneSoccer. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980
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