Valour FC shows signs they could be CPL contenders

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/04/2023 (902 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In many ways, it was a sobering shot of cruelty delivered to Valour FC after 90 minutes of high-flying play.

And while moral victories are tough to settle for, Winnipeg’s Canadian Premier League side showed every sign of a club seeking to end a franchise-defining playoff drought.

Valour opened its 2023 Canadian Premier League home campaign with a 1-1 draw against the 2022 regular season champions Atlético Ottawa at IG Field on Saturday. The club moved to 1–0-1 on the season and kept a solid home record intact that dates back to last season.

Valour was 7-3-4 at home a season ago and is now 2-1-1 in home openers.

“There were two parts in the first half. We started the game very well, we got the goal, we settled on the ball,” said head coach Phillip Dos Santos. “We were able to find spaces in wide areas, isolating our wide players in one-versus-one situations, dropping their wingers low. Then we lost a bit of effectiveness on our pressure. And that’s a single moment, a moment where we didn’t deal well with the first ball and Ottawa got the goal.

“We got in the second well. We got into good spots, we got a few balls in the box, we were sometimes a half an inch of getting through and being able to get behind the opposition. All we were missing was the goal.”

Valour was dominant for stretches in the match, hemming Ottawa in its own half for much of the second half while owning 58.8 per cent of possession time and five corners (to two for Ottawa).

It was an encouraging effort after the club started its season with a bang in Toronto, defeating York United FC 2-0, but followed it up with an underwhelming 3-1 defeat in the preliminary round of the Canadian Championship on Wednesday.

Midfielder Rapahel Ohin, playing in his second competitive match since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee 13 months ago, was injured in the losing effort and did not dress for Saturday’s match. A hole also remained on the backline of the club’s defence, as captain Andrew Jean-Baptiste’s season debut continues its delay while he nurses an injury.

On this day, midfielder Diego Gutierrez assumed captaincy duties and speared the club’s offensive output.

Winnipeg’s side couldn’t have drawn up a better start to their home season. Gutierrez struck a touch of magic off the left side of the penalty box with a remarkable header to net his first career goal in the CPL just three minutes into the match.

“It happened so fast. I remember when I kissed my arm and I pointed to my girlfriend, but it happened so fast and I’m so happy,” Gutierrez said.

“I saw that space, I said ‘That’s my big opportunity,’ and I ran and I hit it with (my) head. That’s it.”

Valour continued to leave few to doubt who the leading side was as the opening half continued, owning nearly 60 per cent of the possession time for much of the frame.

Ottawa persisted, however, and broke through in the 32nd minute. Winger Gianni dos Santos finished a surge up the left side of the pitch with a perfectly-placed left-footed roller that beat the outstretched arms of Valour keeper Rayane Yesli and rattled off the inside of the far post and into the net.

The club’s efforts didn’t go without some controversy, however. In the 57th minute, as Valour put on a full-court press, a shot from Anthony Novak appeared to touch the left hand of Ottawa’s Carl Haworth inside the penalty box, but went uncalled by officials.

“I think it’s a clear (penalty kick),” said Dos Santos. I saw it on the big screen.

“I think that both officials that were on the side of the ball, one of them needs to see it. But I also know what I say won’t come out because people are, in general, afraid to speak about (referees’ mistakes). We speak about player mistakes, we speak about coaches’ mistakes but we never speak about referees’ mistakes.”

Valour continued its aggressive play in the ensuing minutes, and dominated ball control while inducing three corners and several chances that sent the Winnipeg faithful into frantic spurts.

In the end, the only box the club could not check was the game-winning goal.

Valour will hit the road for its next action on Sunday, April 30 against Cavalry (0-1-1) at ATCO Field.

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam