Close, but no cigar for Valour FC (5-2-11), who came up short Sunday night, unable to capitalize on multiple key chances in a 1-0 loss to York United FC (8-4-5) at Princess Auto Stadium in front of 3,098 fans in attendance.
Before Sunday’s match, Valour was on a three-game undefeated stretch after a 2-1 win over Forge FC last weekend, with a 3-0 win over Pacific FC and a draw against the league-leading Atlético Ottawa before that.
However, the momentum from the previous three weeks did not carry over as York keeper Thomas Vicensini picked up his third clean sheet of the season against a Valour team that is desperate for wins.
“Unlucky one,” said defender Tass Mourdoukoutas. “In my opinion, I think it really could have gone either way, but a bit of a lapse of concentration that we can definitely avoid and we’ll be back on top next week.”
York came out strong early in the first half with several close opportunities, including a free kick just outside the box that was successfully blocked by the Valour defence.
“I think that we started a bit timid,” said Valour head coach Philip Dos Santos. “…We were always one ball away from getting in behind and being a threat … It could have gone either way.”
Valour was able to hold on thanks to a few strong saves by goaltender Jonathan Viscosi and some desperate blocks by the defence as the teams entered the second half scoreless.
“We’re conceding a lot less goals,” said Mourdoukoutas on the team’s defence. “Conceded tonight, you know, we’re going to look back on and know that it was pretty soft and something we really could have done without, you know, been a bit smarter… It’s just definitely something we can look back on and reflect on and improve for next week.
Early in the second half, Valour’s Shaan Hundal had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 51st minute when he was awarded a penalty kick. However, Vicensini came up with a crucial save, denying Hundal and keeping the match level.
A few minutes later, Hundal’s close calls continued but this time it was the crossbar that stopped the forward from opening the scoring.
“We played a very good opposition,” said Dos Santos. “It’s not for nothing that today they’re sitting in first as we speak. I have to give them credit also and acknowledge the work that their staff has done. Sometimes you get on a run and you want to win them all, but there’s moments you have to accept what happened today on the field. And I think that the most important is how we are going to react to that.”
A late goal by Austin Ricci in the 77th minute ended up as the game-winner for York who have a league-leading 31 points.
Valour remain at 17 points on the season, now six back from Vancouver FC, who now hold the fifth and final playoff spot after a crucial 1-0 win Sunday afternoon against Pacific FC.
“It’s one game,” said Dos Santos. “We are in the middle of a fight here and we can’t let ourselves go down because of one game. We have to acknowledge that these setbacks will happen and we just need to look ahead.”
Valour FC continues a four-game homestand on Saturday, Aug. 17 and will try to rack up a win against the last-place Halifax Wanderers.
zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca
