A date with the bottom-feeders of the Canadian Premier League appeared to be exactly what the doctor ordered for a Valour FC club that’s struggled to muster goals recently. Instead, Winnipeg’s side left the Maritimes with more questions than answers.
Not even a date with the lowly Halifax Wanderers could spark Valour’s dim attack in what finished a 2-0 decision for the hosts on Saturday. Valour and Halifax now own the same record at 1-6-2 on the campaign.
A bigger concern is Valour has scored once in its last three matches and has just eight tallies on the season, good for second-worst in the league.
Valour midfielder Kian Williams battles for position Saturday during a game against the Halifax Wanderers FC at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Trevor MacMillan/HFX Wanderers FC)
“It wasn’t good enough,” said head coach Phillip Dos Santos. “When you have one or two guys that don’t show up, as a coach, you deal with things better. I felt that it was collective today. We weren’t good, that’s all.
“What bothers me the most is when you show signs that you’re not competing or matching the opposition’s intensity. I feel that this game, a lot of things went against us, a lot of things didn’t work our way and it’s that simple — an opponent that was better than you, and us not being good enough.”
Halifax’s offence was spurred by strong starts in both halves. Callum Watson needed all of nine minutes to open the scoring before adding his second of the game in the 52nd minute (seven minutes into the second half).
It was just the second time Valour keeper Rayanne Yesli, who has started all nine matches, conceded more than one goal in a contest this season.
Valour’s stingy defence continues to be the backbone of the club while its offence remains that lone element that prevents the team from adding to the win column. The visitors were outshot 12-4 — 8-1 inside the box — and failed to register a shot on target Sunday.
“Nobody here has ‘No. 10 Messi’ on their jersey,” Dos Santos said in reference to his players getting too comfortable. “If you don’t work, if you don’t commit to what your role is within the team, you’re going to struggle to play.
“Nobody can relax. Nobody. And I felt that today too many guys relaxed.”
Halifax Wanderers midfielder Callum Watson gestures to the crowd during Saturday’s match between the Wanderers FC and Valour FC at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Trevor MacMillan/HFX Wanderers FC)
Valour will try to right the ship when the defending champion and first-place Forge FC (4-4-1) visit IG Field on Friday (7 p.m.).
Twitter: @jfreysam
Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter
Joshua Frey-Sam happily welcomes a spirited sports debate any day of the week.
