Valour gets big lift from Wanderers, pulls into tie for sixth

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This article was published 17/08/2024 (717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A little help from the opposing team led Valour FC to a 2-1 victory over the Halifax Wanderers at Princess Auto Stadium Saturday night.

The Wanderers surrendered a costly own goal that left them sitting at the bottom of the Canadian Premier League standings with 16 points (4-4-10) as Valour handed them their third consecutive loss.

With the win, Valour (6-2-11) hit 20 points on the season to tie Pacific FC for sixth place. Both teams sit three points back of Vancouver FC who holds the fifth and final playoff spot.

“The guys are a fantastic group,” said coach Philip Dos Santos. “I can’t say enough about how they came together after going through so much adversity in the early stages of the season… I’m just seeing how all of it is coming together.

“And for me, my joy is because I see how much they want this and I really want this team to succeed, for this group of players.”

The match, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., was delayed until 7:30 p.m. due to poor air quality from wildfire smoke.

The hosts came out of the gate pressing, with Diogo Dias da Ressureição getting the best chance of the game early on when the midfielders’ clear shot from the centre of the box was blocked by the Wanderer’s defence on the goal-line.

However, it was Wanderers midfielder Massimo Ferrin who broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, capitalizing on a rebound off Valour keeper Jonathon Viscosi to put the visitors ahead 1-0.

Valour needed a pushback goal.

Who was the big scorer to tie the game for Valour? A Wanderer.

Thanks to an own goal off the head of defender Daniel Nimick in the 38th minute, the teams entered halftime tied 1-1. Nimick scored two goals against Valour last time the teams met in a 3-1 Valour loss.

“Any deflection could lead to something,” said Dos Santos. “… I think that the only thing you know is that if you don’t put the ball in dangerous areas, you won’t score.”

Jordan Swibel made no mistake in the 63rd minute, scoring the winner with a shot almost parallel to the goal-line from the right side that just managed to trickle into the net.

“It was nice to get a little tap-in,” said Swibel. “Because I haven’t had one yet. I’ve been kind of scoring from all over the place, but not in the box yet as much as I’d like.”

Valour attacker Shaan Hundal, who has been snakebitten recently, had a prime one-on-one opportunity against Yann Fillion to extend the lead but could not convert thanks to a strong save by the Wanderers keeper.

But Swibel’s team-leading seventh goal of the season proved to be enough for a Valour win.

“Testament to all the boys,” said Swibel. “We dug deep and did the job that was required. Halifax were good. They’re a good side. They move the ball quickly, and they’ve got significant players on the ball. So it was just about everyone sticking to our roles and doing our jobs, which is what we did.”

Valour, which is 3-1-1 in its last five matches, will try to close the gap on visiting Vancouver FC on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. The match will complete a four-game homestand.

Four of Valour’s six wins on the season have been at home and six of its remaining nine games will be on home turf.

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca