Vancouver FC returned home to Willoughby Community Park on Friday night to host Valour FC, with a new head coach and hopes of securing a win to climb the standings. Vancouver has only one win this season and currently sits in last place. In their last outing, they lost 4–0 to York United, with their two previous games ending in draws. Valour FC sits just above Vancouver in the standings, with only two wins this season. Valour has scored thirteen goals compared to Vancouver’s fourteen.
With Martin Nash now at the helm of Vancouver FC, fans were hoping to see a change in the team’s style of play. In the first half, Vancouver dominated as they moved the ball forward quickly and varied their attacks. The use of long, crossing through balls stretched the Valour defense and opened up space for quick runs through the middle. The result was an entertaining first half that brought out the loudest and most engaged fan support of the season.
Valour FC opened the scoring early with a long through ball that Kianz Froese converted for his first goal with the club. The quick opener woke the Vancouver FC side up, and they began to take control of the game. In the 13th minute, Elage Bah dribbled past the Valour goalkeeper and appeared to be fouled before he could take his shot, but the referee waved play on to the frustration of the Vancouver players and crowd.
In the 16th minute, Elage Bah was played through again on the left side of the box, and instead of taking on the goalkeeper, he unleashed a powerful shot from ten meters, but Jonathan Viscosi managed to block it with his arm. In the 28th minute, Bah finally beat Viscosi with a fine header to level the game. This was Bah’s first goal of the season, and the defender-turned-forward was showcasing impressive attacking skills.
Bah had two more great scoring chances in the first half. In the 38th minute, he was tripped while running onto a through ball, but once again, the referee did not award a penalty. Less than a minute later, his cross was deflected, bouncing off the post and out for a corner.
In the second half, Vancouver seemed to lose its momentum and reverted to a slow, methodical attacking style, relying on tentative passes rather than the quicker strikes and runs that had troubled Valour earlier. As the game slowed, the away side tightened its defence and added more variety to its attacks, which opened up the Vancouver backline and created several good scoring chances in the first fifteen minutes of the half. Valour regained the lead in the 66th minute when Gianfranco Facchineri scored off a corner kick.
Valour put the game away in the 73rd minute with a goal from Kris Twardek, who was left unmarked to receive a cross from the left wing. His low volley ended Vancouver’s hopes of a victory in Martin Nash’s debut as interim head coach.
While the result was not what Vancouver had hoped for, they played their best half of the season, and three questionable non-calls in the penalty box proved to be the difference. Based on the performance, there are positive signs for the team moving forward.
Next up for the Eagles is an away game against HFX Wanderers on August 4, 2025, while Valour will play at home against Cavalry on July 29, 2025.
