October 9, 2923...Analysis: What We Need To See From The Nine Stripes in Wednesday's Playoff Clash with Pacific FC
(from York United FC website)
ANALYSIS: WHAT WE NEED TO SEE FROM THE NINE STRIPES IN WEDNESDAY'S PLAYOFF CLASH WITH PACIFIC FC
THE DETAILS
KEEP AN IMPRESSIVE AWAY RECORD GOING
York United produced another gritty performance on the road last Friday night to improve to seven wins and three draws
from 14 away games in the 2023 CPL Regular Season. This statistic alone is enough to earn a side a postseason spot.
And there's plenty more air miles ahead of them too, should they progress.
By finishing in that fifth and final playoff place, they will need to navigate a unique path if they wish to push towards
a championship decider: four straight away fixtures, beginning with an assignment against fourth-placed Pacific FC in Langley
on Wednesday night.
The team has remained on the west coast over the past few days, since an Osaze de Rosario brace ensured a 2-1 win over
Vancouver FC. And the good energy leftover from the dramatic home victory over Atletico Ottawa ensured it was relatively
easy to keep them zoned in for a crucial, must-win affair.
"Keeping them focused was quite easy, especially after the win last week," said Head Coach Martin Nash post-game.
"You get that late goal (against Atletico) and put everything in our hands and I think the guys fed off that in a good way.
I thought we came up with the right energy, the right attitude and application and we were good enough," said The Gaffer.
"I’m proud of the guys. It's a bit of a relief more than anything but I think we deserve it - over the season - to be
in the playoffs. It's nice to do it this way and win over here instead of waiting and hoping."
The key to Wednesday's battle at Starlight Stadium will be keeping that same focus, energy and game-management, especially
considering the opponents have been a thorn in York's side all season, putting four goals past them both home and away.
The other two fixtures between the sides were a lot closer, but with a possible 12 points on the table, Martin Nash's side
have only racked up one against them.
Concentration, consideration and composure is the order of the day.
DE ROSARIO STARTING TO PEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME
It has been a difficult second season for Osaze De Rosario but even in his tough times the striker proved his prolificacy
can never be in doubt. His pair of first half goals ensured York United’s 2-1 win over Vancouver FC sealed qualification.
Despite his slow start, De Rosario is now tied on six goals with Kevin dos Santos and Mo Babouli as the club’s top scorers
for the campaign.
Nash said: "I think he needed it more than anyone really. He's been through a lot this year-having that ban hanging over him
all season. Then when the ban came, [he was] out for a month. It was hard to be away from the team because he couldn't train
and then had to earn his way back into the team and Brian [Wright] was playing well too. But he came in, worked hard,
and was able to get his minutes again."
"What Osaze did in the last few games wasn't necessarily scoring, his work rate was really high. He was closing players down
and helping us in other ways. For a striker who does all the little things that help the team, it kind of gives him more
of a lease to get more minutes than everything else. I hope that having hit the back of the net twice will give him that
confidence for Wednesday."
YORK UNITED DESERVE TO BE IN THE PLAYOFFS
After three consecutive home defeats, York United looked outsiders to make the cast for the playoffs. Rebounding in the last
two matches of the regular season, aided by Atletico Ottawa’s home defeat to Valour, sent The Nine Stripes through. Despite
finishing fifth behind Cavalry, Forge, Halifax Wanderers and Pacific, Head Coach Martin Nash believes they have enough
in their tank to get the required results against any side.
"We didn't lose at Forge this year. We didn't lose at Halifax this year. So, that bodes well. We've had one good performance
at Pacific that we can take some confidence out of but you gotta turn it up for playoff time."
STILL LOTS OF WORK REQUIRED
In 2021, York United squeezed into the playoffs by virtue of a chaotic final weekend of action. There are three surviving
members from that roster: Roger Thompson, Max Ferrari and goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos.
The netminder was then second-choice to Nathan Ingham, but is now a key player in the set-up and a leader in the locker room.
Captaining the side on a litany of occasions this term, he admits there are some corrections to be made ahead of Wednesday's test.
"If we were going off that [2021] playoff format, we wouldn't have qualified because only the top four teams made it,
but we're going to bring that experience that it's do or die now," Giantsopoulos said.
"It's going to be the fine details that are going to allow us to get results. Everyone knows we've been thinking about playoffs
for the second half of this season so, we will get the job done and be a bit cleaner than we have been in regular season."
Ridwan Ibrahim Asante
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