Valour ‘won’t die’ in come-from-behind victory over Calvary

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This article was published 11/08/2023 (1136 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Valour FC aren’t done just yet.

The Winnipeg football club looked like they have much of the season through the first 48 minutes against Cavalry FC at IG Field on Friday night. Former Valour forward William Akio scored a pair of goals to give the visitors a 2-0 lead and Valour had not even managed a shot on target. A switch flipped at that point for the home team as they dominated Cavalry for the remainder of the game, scoring three goals in a span of 21 minutes to win it 3-2.

The three points were much needed for Valour as they are currently in seventh place in the Canadian Premier League standings with only nine games remaining. The top five teams make the post-season, and Valour will require more performances like this one if they want to make it to the big dance.

The start to the game was certainly shaky with Cavalry FC taking only eight minutes to find the back of the net. Jesse Daley sent a cross that found the head of Akio who redirected the ball past Valour keeper Rayane-Yuba Yesli.

Valour did have a quality chance to equalize in the opening half when a scramble in front of the Cavalry net resulted in Klaidi Cela with the ball at his feet and a wide-open net. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old skyed his attempt well over the bar.

The second half was a mirror image of the first with Akio scoring again in the opening minutes of the half, this time taking only three minutes to find the back of the net.

Despite the hole Valour had dug themselves, they refused to roll over.

Valour captain Diego Gutiérrez took matters into his own hands and delivered a gorgeous corner kick to the back post that found Cela once again. The Canadian defender would redeem himself this time, rocketing a header past Cavalry’s backstop Marco Carducci.

In the 60th minute, Andy Baquero Ruiz was taken down by Cavalry defender Daan Klomp and the penalty was awarded. Gutiérrez stepped up and buried it in the top left corner to tie the game.

Valour could smell blood in the water and continued the attack on Cavalry. In the 72nd minute, Kian Williams cut the ball inside and delivered a powerful strike that Carducci deflected away, but right to Walter Ponce who tapped it in to put Valour up for good.

The thrilling comeback win can hopefully serve as a spark for Valour who need every point they can get over the next nine contests, currently sitting five points back of fifth place. Gutiérrez says the team has no interest in finishing outside the playoff picture.

“Everybody (on the team) thinks we have to play in the playoffs… we won’t die, we have to keep going,” said the Valour skipper post game.

Head coach Phillip Dos Santos credited his team’s resilience and ability to deliver a counterblow quickly when they were faced with adversity early in the second half.

“You either collapse or you can get a goal and things change,” said Dos Santos.

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The outburst of offense was a welcome sight for Valour who had not scored three goals since a 3-1 win over York United on July 26, 2022. That was 36 matches ago. This was also only the fourth time this season Valour had scored multiple goals in a game.

When asked about his team’s ability to create and convert offensively, Dos Santos said keeping things simple was key for his side to put up three goals in Friday’s match and will be a key for them in their remaining contests.

“Sometimes I feel we’re a bit too sweet around the box looking for the perfect play, or we run too much with the ball… we needed to be more objective, more pragmatic.”

Valour will face Atlético Ottawa in their next match on Aug. 18, at 7 p.m., at IG Field.

donald.stewart@freepress.mb.ca