A lightning and rain-drenched night that delayed the start of the game by two hours ended badly for Vancouver FC on Sunday, June 2, as the visiting Eagles fell 2-0 to Valour FC in Winnipeg.
Jordan Swibel scored twice to give Valour their second victory of the season in their home opener, ending a VFC run of three games without a loss, while Valour extended their undefeated streak to three.
The hosts took advantage of a slip from David Norman on the slick surface at Princess Auto Stadium in the 38th minute. Swibel broke in behind, and after his initial shot was stopped by VFC keeper Callum Irving, Swibel slammed home a second effort. It was the second time the Australian had opened the scoring against Vancouver in the clubs’ two meetings in 2024.
In the second half, Swibel and Valour added another goal, when he went one-on-one with Irving for his second goal of the match, and fourth of the season.
Jordan Swibel is named @CPLsoccer Player of the Week after racking up 2 goals against Vancouver FC on Sunday.
Congrats Jordi! 🤩 #ForValour pic.twitter.com/v17EQvdyRP
— Valour FC (@ValourFootball) June 3, 2024
It was the third time in four away matches this season that Vancouver have allowed the hosts to score multiple goals. They are tied with York United for the most goals per game allowed on the road this year.
“There was just lapses of concentration of our central defenders, very simple plays that were just, in my opinion, amateur goals that we gave away,” said Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi. “That was maybe our way of giving a present away in the [home opener] of a team.”
Despite the loss, Vancouver FC remained in second place in league standings., almost entirely due to the fact that they remain undefeated at home.
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“These are growing pains for a team that still is playing with a lot of new players and still trying to lead how to lead the league,” said Ghotbi. “When we’re in this position in the table, you have to be mentally much stronger, and you have to be more, in my opinion, error-free if you want to take points out of these games away from home.”
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Next up, Vancouver head to York Lions Stadium on Sunday, June 9, for the second time this season, looking to avenge a 3-0 loss they suffered to York United earlier this season.
After that, Vancouver will host Cavalry at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl on Sunday, June 16. as part of the league’s On Tour series of games at neutral sites across the country.
VFC returns home to Willoughby Community Park at the Langley Events Centre on Sunday, June 23, to host Halifax at 4 p.m.
