York United claimed all three points the 905 Derby versus Forge FC on Wednesday night at Tim Hortons Field, as a last-minute screamer from Brem Soumaoro meant the clash ultimately finished 2-1 in favour of the Nine Stripes.
The early stages of the game saw Forge take the initiative, with a handful of chances in the opening 10 minutes. However, York ended up with the first major opportunity to score 10 minutes in; a shot in the box took a deflection off Forge fullback Rezart Rama’s elbow, which referee Mathieu Souaré deemed handball — pointing to a spot for a York penalty.
Mo Babouli, making his return to York’s starting XI after five games out of it, stepped up to take the spot kick against his former club. His attempt, however, didn’t get close enough to the post and goalkeeper Triston Henry was able to get down and save it — which sparked a Forge attack in the other direction, as David Choinière found himself alone in on goal but Niko Giantsopoulos likewise turned away the one-on-one shot.
Both sides continued to probe in what became a very back-and-forth first half; Forge skipper Kyle Bekker very nearly scored around the half-hour mark as the ball set up beautifully in the box, but York midfielder Brem Soumaoro arrived with a very brave slide to block the shot and send it over the bar.
Coming out of halftime, it would at last be the visitors who broke open the scoring. Austin Ricci received a through ball toward the left flank and cut into the box, and his low pass across deflected off Forge’s Alessandro Hojabrpour, skipping off the post and in to make it 1-0 for York.
With half an hour left and York leading narrowly, both managers turned to their bench for a triple substitution. Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis called on Woobens Pacius, Terran Campbell and Ashtone Morgan to try and spark his attack, while York’s Martin Nash likewise chose to remain aggressive with a trio of attack-minded players in Clément Bayiha, Osaze De Rosario and Max Ferrari.
The move, however, would turn out better for the home side. In the 76th minute, Bekker received the ball near the corner flag and whipped in a pinpoint cross to Campbell, who managed to climb high and get his head on it for an excellent finish, equalizing the match.
Forge came agonizingly close to a winner almost immediately after as a through ball found the foot of Pacius in the six-yard box, but he wasn’t able to tip it goalward.
The spoils, in the end, would be York’s though. Out of almost nowhere, the ball fell to Soumaoro about 40 yards from goal. The midfielder lofted a shot from there that sailed well over traffic and dipped under the bar to win the game for the Nine Stripes.
BOX SCORE
Goals
53′ — Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC) (Own Goal)
76′ — Terran Campbell (Forge FC)
90+2’ — Brem Soumaoro (York United)
Discipline
10′ — Yellow: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
10′ — Yellow: Triston Henry (Forge FC)
25′ — Yellow: Manjrekar James (Forge FC)
68′ — Yellow: Osaze De Rosario (York United)
70′ — Yellow: Lassana Faye (York United)
74′ — Yellow: Austin Ricci (York United)
80′ — Yellow: Mo Babouli (York United)
83’ — Yellow: Niko Giantsopoulos (York United)
