Late goal gives Valour FC a tie

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This article was published 05/06/2023 (1196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nothing like some late heroics.

With his team down a goal in the 72nd minute, Matteo de Brienne found some space and delivered a gorgeous strike with his weaker foot that found the back of the net to give Valour FC a point in a 1-1 draw against York United in front of 3,352 fans at IG field.

This draw is the sixth in eight games for Valour, who now sit at 1-6-1 on the season in fifth place in the Canadian Premier League standings.

Both teams had the pleasure of dealing with intense heat and humidity during the game, but Valour head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos said that the physical conditions had no impact on his players.

“Our guys are resilient, they are strong, they love challenges,” said Dos Santos.

The challenges were not exclusive to the weather for Valour as they found themselves down 1-0 after York’s Molham Babouli scored on the team’s first shot on goal in the 49th minute.

Despite conceding early in the second half, the Winnipeg Club rallied and continued to attack. Left back de Brienne scored a gorgeous equalizer from just outside the 18-yard box in the 72nd minute for Valour.

“I just managed to create myself some space and I managed to connect on a strike that ended up in the back of the net, so I’m very happy about that,” said de Brienne.

He said his team’s ability to come back from deficits and battle adversity demonstrates their will to win.

“We’re a team of fight,” said de Brienne. “The fact that we managed to come back and grab one (point) and just kept fighting for more, you know, just goes to show how much we want this.”

Valour’s fight is evidenced by the club having lost only one game this season. While losses have not been common for the club this season, wins have been very few and far between — their last victory was a 2-0 triumph over York United in their season opener on April 16.

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Asked about turning more draws into wins, Dos Santos said the answer was simple.

“Score goals, it’s the name of the game,” said Dos Santos “Today we created enough to win this match.”

The statistics tell a story of the Winnipeg side creating chances. Valour totalled 18 shots with four on target in comparison to five total shots and two on target for their opponent.

Valour FC will hit the road for their next match against the Halifax Wanderers (0-6-2) on Saturday at Wanderers Grounds.

donald.stewart@freepress.mb.ca