We return to the Canadian Premier League for week two of the new season. Each week, I will discuss the games played the past weekend, the current league table, and the upcoming encounters, giving you a one-stop-shop where you can keep up on events and hear a bit of analysis. This was a compact week, as Valour and Cavalry did not play a game.
Pacific vs. Forge (0-2)
Both teams came into this match having won their opening game of the season, making this an interesting encounter. The match opened in a lively fashion, with both teams feeling each other out. I had remarked last week on Forge having a fair bit of press to their game, while also noting Pacific’s defensive fluidity.
Forge had the advantage early, with Pacific often holding their lines to contain long balls. As the half wore on, Pacific began to find their offensive footing, and made some concerted attacks of their own.
The game had a fair bit of pushing and shoving, as both squads tried to assert themselves, finally awarding a yellow card to Pacific’s Dario Zanatta at 24 minutes, and another following at 26 minutes for Daniel De Pauli.
The decisive moment of the first half happened at 43 minutes, as a Forge free kick was finessed through the Pacific defensive line and past the goalkeeper by Khadim Kane.
The second half started with more shoving, as tempers flew hot and Pacific found their footing a bit more, though their breaks into the Forge defensive formation tended to come apart due to blocked passes.
Forge made another mark at 59 minutes, as Kyle Bekker smashed the ball off the Pacific crossbar. The ensuing corner kick saw Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson head it in for the second Forge goal.
Pacific continued trying to build attacks with the last 20 minutes, taking place mostly on the Forge side of the field, but the lethal opportunity never quite presented itself.
Pacific Thoughts: The match was certainly not lost for lack of effort or energy, but it did not translate to much in the end, with only 5 shots (1 on target) the entire match. It felt like the accuracy and positioning was just not there in the final moments of an attack.
Forge Thoughts: A tough game with lots of long balls forward creating opportunities, as well as a competent defence.
York vs. Halifax (1-2)
The opening matchday saw both teams score 2 goals, making for an impressive season opening, whether it was a win (York) or draw (Wanderers).
York came out strong, asserting themselves as quickly as possible with the first significant attempt coming at the 7 minute mark from a header, though they had to defend a save a few minutes later, showing the quick changes of pace in this game right away.
The Wanderers would remain under siege with the Halifax squad having difficulty clearing their lines, with the payoff coming as Adonijah Reid slipped the ball to Gabriel Bitar, who scored the first goal of the match for York.
As the half moved into the last 20 minutes, the balance shifted towards the Wanderers with several close calls and long runs up their right flank. With the pace of the game picking up, so did the scrapping and scuffling, resulting in several yellow cards being handed out. The half ended with a York save in the final minute. Both teams had acquitted themselves quite well in the first half.
Halifax came out strong in the second half with a direct shot on goal at 50 minutes. The scraps between teams continued with a foul near the York penalty box giving Giorgio Probo the chance to kick it in straight from the free kick position, equalising the score to 1-1.
With the game in the balance, both teams scrambled with outstanding chances coming, and failing, as the second half went on. With each minute it seemed tensions kept boiling up and a pushing and shoving scrap between multiple players broke out at 70 minutes, resulting in both prior goal scorers earning a yellow card.
At 80 minutes, a minute after Tiago Coimbra was substituted on for Halifax, he received a long ball and shot it in, bringing the Wanderers the lead at 2-1. With another multi-player scrap breaking out, a substitute player receiving a yellow card for trying to join in and a total 34 fouls between the two teams, tempers flared until the end, but after a last minute corner kick from York, it would be 2-1 Wanderers.
York Thoughts: Strong start but in the long run, their ability to retain control slipped inexorably.
Wanderers Thoughts: The longer the game wore on, their greater control and possession took effect.
Vancouver vs. Ottawa (1-4)
The final match of the week featured two teams that had victory elude them last week, as Vancouver struggled suffered a 0-2 defeat, and Ottawa slugged it out to a 2-2 tie.
After a scare at the 3 minute mark where Ottawa almost scored, Vancouver began to get their attack going, and had a series of excursions into the Ottawa half of the pitch, though without being able to make anything of it.
However at 19 minutes, Ottawa’s David Rodriguez showed his agility by running more or less straight through the Vancouver defence and scoring the first goal of the match. Vancouver rallied and 2 minutes later almost had an equaliser, with opportunities following on for both teams in a back and forth game. David Rodriguez would return at 36 minutes though, sending the ball to Kevin dos Santos, who hoofed it in for a second Ottawa goal.
Trying to rally, disaster struck Vancouver at 42 minutes, as a long ball forward was completely missed by the goalkeeper Callum Irving, letting Ballou Tabla tap it into the goal for an 3-0 lead. The half ended with a last minute corner by a desperate Vancouver side hoping to get something before the break.
Returning to the field when you are 3 down is a real challenge, particularly with an emboldened Ottawa team bearing down on you.
In the 65th minute the VFC squad was not only able to score a goal to satisfy some honour in this match, but also getting their first goal of the season, as Elage Bah passed to Terran Campbell, who was able to to run straight at the goal and finish the play off.
Vancouver was able to fend off the Ottawa pressure for a while longer, though more and more shots kept coming in, and at 82 minutes the walls fell at last, as Aboubacar Sissoko handed Monty Patterson an opportunity, and Ottawa brought the game to its final score, a 4-1 win for them.
Vancouver Thoughts: A difficult start to a long season, but there are glimmers of hope. Players like Bah and Diaz were constantly pushing and probing, particularly with Bah up the flanks.
Ottawa Thoughts: A strong team who kept up the pressure the entire game, rather than falling back and parking the bus to defend their lead.
Week Two Overview
Week two leaves Forge in the undisputed first position at 6 points, with Ottawa and Wanderers covering the second and third positions at 4 points each. York and Pacific sit fourth and fifth with 3 points each, while Vancouver are still chasing their first point in the table. Cavalry and Valour are likewise without a win, but have only played a single game so far.
Friday the 18th will see Cavalry face Vancouver. Who will break out of the 0 point field? Saturday York and Ottawa face-off, as do Wanderers and Pacific. Finally, Valour and Forge will go toe to toe, which will no doubt be a tough second game for Valour, as Forge will fight to remain the only team without a loss.
It’s still early in the season so drawing too many conclusions may be dangerous. I hope you will join us next week as the story lines begin the develop.