Vancouver FC left it late, but they slightly slowed down a red-hot York United side with a 1-1 draw at Willoughby Community Park on Saturday, doing so in dramatic fashion.
After York had opened the scoring just one minute into the second half, Vancouver responded with a 93rd minute equalizer to claw back a point, as York were unable to find their 5th win in their past six games.
To start the game, York also came out flying, as they looked to build off their strong run of recent form. As a result, York got their first good look at goal inside just two minutes, as the ball fell to Juan Córdova after a set-piece, but his looped header hit the crossbar and stayed out.
After that, however, the game would settle into a lull, as the heat forced both sides to keep the tempo low. As a result, the next big chance didn’t come until the 42nd minute, as Vancouver’s Thomas Powell nearly snuck behind the York line, only finding himself denied of a goal into an empty net by a brave tackle from York goalkeeper Thomas Vincensini well outside of his goal.
On the other side of the break, however, York would take advantage of the chance to rest some weary legs, as they found the lead just seconds after half time. After receiving the ball out wide, Max Ferrari did well to find Mo Babouli with a perfect cross, one that Babouli did well to head home from close range to make it 1-0.
Eager to respond right away, Vancouver had their best chance of the game just a minute later, as the ball fell to Alejandro Díaz after a York defensive mix-up, but Díaz would be unable to generate enough power on his shot to beat Vincensini.
At the other end, Ferrari looked to turn from provider to goalscorer, as Kadin Martin-Pereux found him with a dangerous cross, but Ferrari failed to keep his header underneath the crossbar. Continuing to push higher up the pitch, Ferrari had another good look at goal in the 65th minute, flashing a shot towards goal from a tight angle, sending the ball just over the crossbar with power.
Aiming to put the game out of reach, York kept on pushing, and nearly found an insurance goal in the 71st minute as Brian Wright was played in by Ferrari, but Wright would be emphatically denied by a strong stop from Vancouver’s Callum Irving.
Looking for some late magic, Paris Gee did well to create a dangerous shot in the 78th minute, cutting inside and firing a strike from just outside of the box, sending his shot just over the goal. Then, Renan Garcia lined up a shot from a dangerous position in the 92nd minute, but he’d be unable to find a late equalizer as his shot flew well over the goal.
Fortunately for Vancouver, however, that wouldn’t be their last chance of the game, as they found some late magic in the 93rd minute. After a great dribble from Grady McDonnell, the teenager found Díaz with a perfect cutback, and Díaz made no mistake in slotting home from close range to make it 1-1 at the death, a result that would hold the rest of the way.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Vancouver FC: Irving; Gee (McDonnell 86′), Romeo, Enyou, Crawford (Campagna 68′); Rommens (Kibato 86′), Garcia; Powell (Fisk 46′), Bitar, Cantave (Dyer 47′); Díaz
York United FC: Vincensini; Ferrari, Abatneh, Léon, Sturing, Botello (Martin-Pereux 46′); Martínez (Baldisimo 80′), Adekugbe, Córdova (Esprit 88′); Wright, Babouli (Voytsekhovskyy 90+2′)
Goals
46′ — Mo Babouli (York United FC)
90+3′ — Alejandro Díaz (Vancouver FC)
Discipline
42′ — Yellow: Michael Williams (York United FC)
57′ — Yellow: Renan Garcia (Vancouver FC)
74′ — Yellow: Josué Martínez (York United FC)
82′ — Yellow: Matthew Baldisimo (York United FC)
90+4′ — Yellow: Allan Enyou (Vancouver FC)
