RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Valour FC vs. York United (May 16, 2025)

Valour FC, at long last, are off the mark in the 2025 Canadian Premier League season, picking up their first victory of the campaign 2-1 over York United on Friday night in Winnipeg.

Going into the match, Valour were the lone team in the league that had not won a match this season. But after Gabriel Bitar opened the scoring for York late in the first half, Kris Twardek responded for Valour early in the second half. Kelsey Egwu was the hero for the Winnipeg side in the 84th minute.

With Mauro Eustáquio suspended for Friday night's match, Mateus Lima took over head coaching duties on the sidelines.

Max Ferrari had a few decent forays forward down the right flank, firing two shots inside the opening 11 minutes. Neither of them truly threatened former Nine Stripe Eleias Himaras in goal, however, who was making his first CPL start for Valour.

On a rainy night in Winnipeg, both sides struggled to find their footing, both figuratively and literally, in the early moments, with several passes missing their mark.

In the 19th minute, Valour forced Diego Urtiaga to make his first save of the match with a clever cutback from Zachary Fernandez into the box, which Xavi Venâncio shot off the turf and into the air, forcing the York goalkeeper to make an acrobatic save.

Valour were unlucky not to earn a penalty in the 28th minute. Off a corner kick, Julian Altobelli looked to handle a ball inside how own box while trying to kickstart a counter attack, but it was not given.

On another counter-attacking moment in the 42nd minute, York United opened the scoring. Steffen Yeates created the opportunity with some great play to create some open space for himself and launched the attack. He laid the ball off to Julian Altobelli, whose initial strike was spilled by Himaras, before Gabriel Bitar tapped home the rebound. York held that 1-0 lead into the half.

Early in the second half, Valour equalized. In the 52nd minute, during a moment when York United captain Elijah Adekugbe was off the pitch receiving treatment, Valour took their man advantage. A whipped low cross from Bruno Figueiredo found Twardek at the top of the box, who shifted the ball to his left foot and sent a thunderous strike past Urtiaga to make the match 1-1.

In the 65th minute, after a quiet spell for both teams, Valour looked to inject some life into their attack, bringing on Shaan Hundal and Jordan Faria. York countered by bringing on Shola Jimoh.

Valour had some great chances to take the lead shortly thereafter. First, Rocco Romeo couldn't make contact on a perfect delivery in the 70th minute, before a minute later, Faria and Hundal combined, but the latter sent his shot from close range over the net.

The hosts kept pressing late in the match, desperate to pick up their first three points of the season. Hundal again came close on a ball across goal, that he could not get a foot on from close range.

But Valour wouldn't be denied. In the 84th minute, a Themi Antonoglou cross on a set piece bounced around in the box before dropping to Egwu, who scored for a second consecutive game to give Valour a 2-1 lead.

York United have now dropped a stunning 14 points from winning positions through seven matches this season, and are winless since the opening day of the season. They return home looking for answers, and where they will face the lone team they have beaten this season, Vancouver FC, next weekend.

For Valour, this victory gives them a big boost heading into a massive match for the club on Tuesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship, the first leg of their quarter-final series.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Valour FC: Himaras; Fernandez, Romeo, Egwu, Antonoglou; Ohin, Figueiredo (Mlah 75'); Twardek, Ressurreição (Morgan 90+4'), Venâncio (Faria 65'); Layne (Hundal 65')

York United: Urtiaga; Singh, Adekugbe, León; Ferrari, Kibato (Rosa 77'), Yeates, Ferrazzo (Botello 46'); Bitar, Altobelli (Reid 86'), Ferrin (Jimoh 65')

Goals

42' -- Gabriel Bitar (York United)
52' -- Kris Twardek (Valour FC)
84' -- Kelsey Egwu (Valour FC)

Discipline

21' -- Yellow: Riley Ferrazzo (York United)
38' -- Yellow: Rocco Romeo (Valour FC)
44' -- Yellow: Kelsey Egwu (Valour FC)
45' -- Yellow: Julian Altobelli (York United)
45+3' -- Yellow: Kembo Kibato (York United)
47' -- Yellow: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
89' -- Yellow: Orlando Botello (York United)