RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Vancouver FC vs. York United FC | Sept. 21, 2025

Vancouver FC have snapped a six-game winless run in Canadian Premier League action, as they picked up a 2-1 win vs. York United at Willoughby Community Park on Sunday.

Just days after beating Atlético Ottawa 3-2 on aggregate in the Canadian Championship semi-finals, Vancouver managed to build off that in style, picking up their first home win in league play since August of 2024.

As for York, they'll be quite frustrated with this defeat, one that means they won't be able to book their spot in the playoffs this week. Along with the victories from Cavalry and the Halifax Wanderers earlier in the weekend, this loss also bumped them to fifth place in the table, adding insult to injury.

Massimo Ferrin almost opened the scoring for York United in the 11th minute, as he did well to receive the ball inside the box after his team worked through a short corner routine, but his left-footed shot flashed just over the goal. Then, moments later, York had another great chance, this time from open play, but Orlando Botello was unable to put away a nice low cross from Adonijah Reid that found him inside the box.

At the other end, Vancouver had their first good look at goal in the 14th minute, as the ball found Paris Gee at the edge of the box after a nice cutback, but the Vancouver defender was unable to keep a rising shot below the crossbar.

Eager to open the scoring, Ferrin had another good chance in the 23rd minute, as he caught all of a shot from distance, curling it just past the post.

Continuing a lively start, Vancouver almost responded with a well-worked goal, as Emrick Fotsing found Abdoulaye Ouattara with a nice pass on a counter-attack, and he almost found the back of the net with a curled left-footed finish after a nice dribble.

Soon after, though, Vancouver would finally get their opener, and Ouattara would play a big role in that marker. After another dangerous counter-attack, Ouattara received the ball from Pathé Ndiaye and proceeded to drop a York United defender with a body feint before playing the ball to Ndiaye, who by then had found himself wide-open in front of a gaping net for the easy goal.

To their credit, however, York didn't wait long to respond with an equalizer. After a nice run from Max Ferrari, he whipped a powerful low ball into the box, finding the run of Ferrin, who slotted a left-footed shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

Yet, that didn't slow down Vancouver, who managed to regain their lead before half time, finding a goal on a wide free-kick. On that action, Thierno Bah played a simple pass to Gee instead of whipping a ball into the box, and Gee did the rest by cutting inside and firing a dangerous shot, one that found the back of the net after a heavy deflection to make it 2-1.

On the other side of the break, York United came out strongly, as they looked to find another equalizer. They almost got that goal in the 56th minute, too, as Gabriel Bitar fired a dangerous half-volley attempt towards goal, sending it just wide of the mark.

Meanwhile, Vancouver continued to push for a third and came close to finding it in the 62nd minute, as Thomas Powell found Terran Campbell with a nice cross after a nice dribble, but Campbell's first-time shot narrowly sailed over the crossbar.

York almost found their second goal in the 72nd minute, as Leonel López stepped up to take a dangerous free kick, curling a low shot just wide of the near post.

Then, Vancouver had another good opportunity in the 80th minute, as Thierno Bah fired a shot from a dangerous position after a nice 1-2 at the edge of York's box, but his shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Diego Urtiaga.

Soon after, York had their best chance of the half, as Ferrin whipped in a dangerous ball towards Shaan Hundal, nearly creating an own goal after the ball bounced off Vancouver's Matteo Campagna and onto the post. Moments later, Vancouver nearly immediately made York pay for that missed opportunity, as they then went the other way and sent Campbell on a breakaway, but his low shot was nicely kept out by Urtiaga.

Continuing a frantic end to the match, York had another great chance in the 86th minute, as Bitar found Hundal with a nice through ball, but Hundal's breakaway attempt was thwarted by a nice kick save from Vancouver's Callum Irving. Then, Bitar had a chance of his own from distance in the first minute of stoppage time, but his shot flashed just wide of the post.

From there, though, Vancouver managed to see out the rest of the game defensively, allowing them to secure the victory.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Vancouver FC: Irving; Gee, Campagna, Enyou, Crawford (Cavalcante 62'); Norman Jr.; Powell (Mbongue 72'), Ouattara (Campbell 62'), Fotsing (O'Connor 78'), Bah; Ndiaye (Podgorni 78')

York United FC: Urtiaga; Sturing, Higgins, Singh (López 46'); Ferrari, Accettola (Yeates 46'), Kibato (Costa 82'), Botello (Ferrazzo 80'); Reid (Bitar 46'), Ferrin; Hundal

Goals

31' — Pathé Ndiaye (Vancouver FC)

40' — Massimo Ferrin (York United FC)

44' — Paris Gee (Vancouver FC)

Discipline

15' — Yellow: Frank Sturing (York United FC)

59' — Yellow: Paris Gee (Vancouver FC)