Valour FC tackled stacked August schedule

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This article was published 25/08/2019 (2405 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MOST Winnipeggers are dreading the end of August.

Winnipeg’s professional soccer team won’t be happier to witness the demise of the month.

It’s been a crazy month for Valour FC, as their schedule featured six matches in 25 days. Their final match in August goes down Wednesday night at IG Field against HFX Wanderers FC.

For Valour midfielder Michael Petrasso, who has five goals and one assist in six Canadian Premier League fall season games, the brutal schedule has taken a toll. He missed eight weeks of action with a Grade 3 groin tear before returning to the lineup in a 2-2 tie at home against Pacific FC on July 31.

“I think with this month’s schedule, the boys that play almost every minute of the games wouldn’t say they’re at 100 per cent,” Petrasso told the Free Press Sunday.

“You find it hard after every game and you just try to recover for the next one. It’s kind of feeling burnt out, but the schedule is the schedule and we just have to play the games to the best of our abilities. Every player wants to win and, when we go on the field, we play with everything we can. But yeah, I would say it’s tough on the body, especially me. But I’m getting there and staying in form, so I’m hoping I can continue on that path.”

Even with all the games and Valour playing some of their best soccer of the season, the club still has yet to string two consecutive victories together. Valour had a chance to do so Saturday in Victoria against Pacific FC, as the Winnipeg side was coming off of an impressive 3-1 victory at home over FC Edmonton. But Valour dropped the ball and Pacific came away with a 2-1 win to jump to fourth place in the fall standings with a 3-4-1 record. Valour fell to 2-4-3, which puts them sixth in the seven-team league.

Valour got out to a 1-0 lead as Petrasso scored in the 59th minute. But two minutes later, attacker Marcus Haber’s header beat goalie Mathias Janssens to tie the match. Haber would score the game-winner in the 81st minute on a penalty kick, although it should have never been awarded. Haber was taken down by Valour midfielder Raphael Ohin just outside of the box, but the official thought it was inside and awarded a penalty shot.

Petrasso was asked about Saturday’s loss and why the team has failed to get two wins in a row.

“I think those are things that kind of bring the team down. After you get such a high, to concede so quickly, it’s mentally draining,” Petrasso said.

“There’s still nine games left in the season, so there’s still lots to play for.”

Petrasso, a 24-year-old Toronto native, has played professionally in England and for Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact, but he said he’s never experienced a schedule like this.

But Petrasso isn’t blaming the schedule-maker for Valour’s shortcomings.

“Every team has got to do it. We’re not the only team that has a schedule like this, so we can’t be making excuses. A lot of teams were also in the Canadian Championship and CONCACAF (League). They get more games and they’re still managing. So, we can go around the schedule, but every team has got to do it.”

Valour got back into town Sunday and will have to quickly regroup to get ready for the Wanderers. Halifax, currently in last place in the fall season with a 2-5-1 record, have had Valour’s number all year. They knocked Valour out of the Canadian Championship, winning 4-1 on aggregate after two legs. In CPL action, Valour got to Halifax first with a 1-0 win at IG Field, but the Wanderers beat the Winnipeg squad 2-0 and 1-0 with both victories coming at Wanderers Stadium.

“Every time we play Halifax, we seem to be on the losing end,” Petrasso said. “We need to go about it a bit differently this game. I think the coaches will come up with a game plan going into the game.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31