The biggest test of the season for Valour FC resulted in the first league loss of 2023.
The Winnipeg side dropped a 3-2 decision to defending Canadian Premier League champion Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton Saturday afternoon.
Valour, which fell to 1-3-1, managed to slug it out with the CPL top club, which improved to 3-2-0 on the season.
Forge Photo
Valour forward Kian Williams goes airborne to play a ball in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Forge FC
Valour opened the scoring in the 30th minute after run by Pacifique Niyongabire resulted in Kian Williams potting his second goal of the season.
Forge replied with two goals. The first coming in the 33rd minute by Jordan Hamilton. Kyle Bekker put the hosts ahead 2-1 in the 50th minute. Valour answered with Abdou Samake’s first CPL marker.
Forge would get the winner in the 77th minute off the head of Kwasi Poku.
“It just felt like every time we got a goal, we allowed Forge to get one back,” Dos Santos told the club website. “We didn’t manage the game very well. I think for us it was about defining moments today; us not making plays that we need to make – to me, that was the biggest thing. When you come on the road here and you score goals normally you need to win, at least not lose the game.
“(The second half) was a bit too open. It became a bit chaotic. We have to be with those games. Things won’t always be structured, and it’s how can we impose our rhythm in our game and bring things to a cool when they are too chaotic.”
Valour managed six shots on target and had 54.3 per cent of possession.
Next up for Valour is a home date next Saturday with Pacific FC at IG Field. Game time 4 p.m.
— staff
