HIGHLIGHTS: Valour FC vs. Vancouver FC (June 25, 2023)

Valour continued their dominance at IG Field on Sunday, as they extended their home unbeaten run to 13 games with a 1-0 win over Vancouver FC.

As a result, they continued to climb up a congested Canadian Premier League table, doing well to find a bit of form with July looming. Meanwhile, it was a tough result for Vancouver, who had just come off a big win in midweek over the defending champions, Forge, as they were just unable to build off that with another big win.

Valour’s Jared Ulloa nearly provided a breakthrough in the seventh minute, as he broke in all alone behind the Vancouver defence following a great pass from Juan Pablo Sánchez, but Vancouver’s Callum Irving would do well to get off his line and make a big save to keep it 0-0.

At the other end, Gael Sandoval would have Vancouver’s first good look of the game in the 30th minute, as Gael Sandoval attempted a shot from distance, although his attempt would sail well over the goal.

Valour would then get the best look of the half in the 37th minute, as Diego Gutiérrez did well to dance around a couple of Vancouver defenders to open up space for a dangerous attempt inside the box, one he’d catch all of, only finding himself denied by the strong hands of Irving.

Continuing their strong push to end the half, Valour then had another good opportunity in the 44th minute. There, Pacifique Niyongabire did well to open up for a shot at the edge of the box, where he’d do well to pick out the bottom corner despite shooting into a sea of Vancouver defenders, but Irving did well to react and palm away the dangerous attempt.

Yet, despite that pressure, Vancouver nearly made Valour pay for their missed chances right in the 48th minute, as Sandoval made perfect contact on a half-volley from just outside of the area, narrowly sending it wide of the top corner.

From there, however, both teams would reach the break with things still tied 0-0, as they looked to try and find a breakthrough in the second stanza.

On the other side of half time, Valour would come out strongly, as they looked likeliest to find that breakthrough. They’d come close to finding it in the 53rd minute, too, as Jaime Siaj would do well to unleash a powerful shot from a tight angle inside of the box, but his attempt would be handled by Irving.

Then, just moments later, Valour would have the best attempt of the game in the 55th minute, as Guillaume Pianelli did well to meet a dangerous corner from Gutiérrez, but his shot hit the post and stayed out.

On the ensuing scramble, however, Valour would manage to win a penalty, as Dante Campbell was taken down inside of the box, giving Valour an opportunity to find that lead from the spot. There, Gutiérrez did well to step up to take it, and he’d make no mistake with his attempt, slotting into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.

From there, Valour would do well to slow down the game, as they looked to protect their win. They had a few looks, such as a Gutiérrez free kick from distance in the 89th minute, but for the most part, the game hit a lull.

At the same time, their lead was still not completely safe. Vancouver reminded them of that in the 93rd minute, too, as Nicky Gyimah had a great look inside of the box, but Valour’s Rayane Yesli did well to keep the attempt out with a powerful stop.

Thanks to that, it’d leave Valour to claim all three points on the day, coming out on top in this tightly-contested clash.

BOX SCORE

Goals

58′ — Diego Gutiérrez (Valour FC) – Penalty

Discipline

14′ — Yellow: Marcus Simmons (Vancouver FC)

50′ — Yellow: Pacifique Niyongabire (Valour FC)

83′ — Yellow: Lennon Thomspon (Vancouver FC)

90+2′ — Yellow: Vancouver FC bench (Vancouver FC)