Vancouver FC started their sophomore season in the Canadian Premier League on a high note on Sunday night, beating Valour FC 4-1 at Willoughby Community Park after a scoring outburst in the second half.
Before the match kicked off, Hercules the eagle made an appearance after featuring in Vancouver’s primary kit launch, making a few laps around the stadium before landing on the hand of captain Callum Irving in the middle of the pitch, to the delight of the home fans.
By the end, however, it was the eagles on the pitch that flew to the top of the CPL table at the end of matchday one.
Moses Dyer, making his return to the Canadian Premier League against his former club, gave Valour their first real scare in the 15th minute of the game, making a run through a pair of defenders to meet a pass in behind from Alejandro Diaz. With only Jonathan Viscosi left to beat, Dyer tried to pick out the bottom left corner with Vancouver’s first shot of the match, but Abdou Samaké was able to get back to clear it away from danger.
Valour’s first shot came a few moments later, with Noah Verhoeven testing Irving with a shot from outside the penalty area that the Eagles captain was able to catch.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 24th minute, off the head of debutant Jordan Swibel. The Australian forward made a run into the box, where he was found by an inch-perfect cross by fellow newcomer Themi Antonoglou. Both players were given more than enough space to make something happen, and they took full advantage.
Vancouver nearly responded from a set piece in the 35th minute. After Renan Garcia’s free kick went under the Valour wall, Diaz took a couple of shots from close range, but Viscosi came charging out of his goal and was able to get down and block it. Ben Fisk had a go with a shot from the edge of the penalty area moments later, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
With time running out at the end of the first half, the hosts found an equalizer with an impressive team goal, finished off by Dyer. After the New Zealand international combined well with Paris Gee on the right flank, he passed it to a wide-open Gabriel Bitar in the middle of the pitch. Bitar played it forward along the ground to Diaz, whose clever backheel found the charging Dyer — who took a pair of touches before thumping it past Viscosi to tie the game.
After a strong finish to the first half, Vancouver started the second with a bang as well, with Paris Gee scoring his first goal for his hometown club in impressive fashion. Gee took a shot from distance, finding the top left corner with a shot that grazed Viscosi’s fingertips on the way in.
Bitar could have doubled his team’s advantage, left alone in front of goal in the 49th minute, but rushed his shot and sent it wide of the mark. The VFC midfielder redeemed himself four minutes later from a similar position inside the box, this time picking out the bottom right corner of the net after a pass to his feet from Gee.
Things went from bad to worse for Valour in the moments after Vancouver’s third goal, as Jordan Faria was sent off with a second yellow card for simulation. Referee Alain Ruch judged that Faria dived and looked for a penalty in the Vancouver penalty area, and he pulled out the second yellow. Vancouver were already flying at that point of the second half, but now with an extra player they really stepped on the gas pedal.
David Norman, another player from the Lower Mainland making his Vancouver FC debut, added to the onslaught in the 67th minute. A cross to the back post from a corner kick found Diaz, who headed the ball back across the box. Norman was in the right position to volley it along the ground, past Viscosi and into the back of the net to make it 4-1.
With Norman’s goal, Vancouver FC set a new club record for most in a game with four, and kept pushing for more. In his debut for the club, Mexican attacker José Navarro attempted an audacious bicycle kick in the 83rd minute, but whiffed on it. TJ Tahid attempted a shot on the follow up as Valour couldn’t clear the ball, but his effort was blocked.
Another goal wouldn’t come for either side after that point, as the Eagles saw out a statement victory in front of their home supporters. They finish the opening weekend of the 2024 season at the top of the Canadian Premier League table.
