York9 FC advance to Qualifying Round 3 of Canadian Championship 2019

York9 FC took a two-goal cushion into Clarke Stadium on June 12, 2019 and managed to hold FC Edmonton to just one goal in stoppage time. Despite the 1-0 loss, York9 FC have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Championship by a 3-2 margin over the two-game series. York9 FC will host Montreal Impact FC of Major League Soccer in the first leg of the next round on July 10.

Knowing they needed to score at least twice, FC Edmonton came out with energy and attacked their opponents. York9 FC defense was pristine and did not allow much in the way of clear-cut chances. York9 did have a spell of possession in Edmonton territory midway through the first half, but did not amount to any real good looks on goal.

The best chance of the half fell to Edmonton. Off one of many Yongchan Son throw in’s deep in York9 territory, this one was deflected into the box by a defender. Mele Temguia jumped on the chance, but had his volley attempt miss the target over the bar (40’).

Edmonton showed urgency to get goals in front of their home town fans. A pair of chances came, Easton Ongaro sent in Diouck, which called upon Nathan Ingham to make his biggest stop of the night. Moments later, a near blunder by York9 defender Morey Doner, as he nearly put a Tomi Ameobi cross into his own goal. Ingham pounced on it just before it went over the goal line (76’).

Four minutes into added time FC Edmonton found a breakthrough goal. Keeper Dylon Cowley sailed a ball into the box, Ameobi rose above all, headed it down to Temguia. Temguia made no mistake, touched it by the keeper to bring Edmonton within a single goal of advancing. Anxious moments for the visitors as Amer Didic had a last-minute strike blocked to preserve the victory.

FC Edmonton starting XI had Canadian Dylon Powley in goal. Canadians Bruno Zebie and Mele Temguia joined Kareem Moses, Jeannot Esua from left to right across the back line. Canadian Randy Edwini-Bonsu, Ramon Soria, James Marcelin and Yongchan Son filled the midfield from left to right. Captain Tomi Ameobi and Oumar Diouck were the strikers.

Edmonton coach Jeff Paulus used all three of his changes to bring on Canadian substitutes in the second half. Edwini-Bonsu was replaced by Amer Didic (66’), Easton Ongaro made his debut for FC Edmonton, came on for Son (70’), and Diouck was replaced with Marcus Velado-Tsegaye.

York 9 Starting XI had Canadian Nathan Ingham in goal. The 4-1-4-1 formation included an all Canadian back line of Diyaeddine Abzi, Daniel Gogarty, Luca Gasparotto, Morey Doner from left to right. Wataru Murofushi started as the defensive midfielder played behind three Canadians; Ryan Telfer, Captain Manuel Aparicio, Kyle Porter, as well as Rodrigo Gattas from left to right across the midfield. Simon Adjei as the lone striker up front.

Coach Jimmy Brennan brought on three Canadians in the second half. Gattas replaced by Joseph Di Chiara (66’), Murofushi with Steven Furlano (82’) and Aparicio with Justin Springer (90+1).