York9 FC edges AS Blainville 1-0 at home to advance to Qualifying Round 2

The Canadian Premier League’s York9 FC earned a Qualifying Round 2 berth on Wednesday, 22 May by defeating the PLSQ Champions AS Blainville 1-0 in the second leg of their Qualifying Round 1 tie of the 2019 Canadian Championship at the York Lions Stadium in North York, Ontario. This was York9 FC’s first ever victory in the club’s short history at their first ever home game. The green and black is now off to the second qualifying round against fellow CPL side FC Edmonton, June 5 and 12 for a chance to move on to the next stage of the expanded national cup competition.

Blainville had the first knock on the opponent’s door when Canadian international Wandrille Lefebvre blasted a shot just out of York9 FC’s box, sending the ball just off the top left corner. A few seconds later, keeper Nathan Ingham had to dive to his right to stop a quick shot from the right side of the field and kept on the rebound to stop the threat from developing.

The first half’s best scoring chance came from York9 FC’s Ryan Telfer off a play that originated from the left flank. The ball was crossed in the box and redirected at the second post by Simon Adjei’s header at the 35th minute, directly to Telfer’s foot who quickly released a point-blank shot on goal, only to be frustrated by Blainville’s Erwann Ofouya’s brilliant reflex save.

The same pair would combine their effort for the winning tally in the 71st minute, when Telfer scored on a rebound off Adjei’s initial shot.

Chasing after the away goal that would have put them ahead on the aggregate scoreboard, Blainville sub Stefan Karajovanovic came close to complete a cross from Mitchell Syla in the 81st minute, but his back foot flicker at the first post just went wide to Ingham’s right.

Canadian Nathan Ingham was the starting goalkeeper for York FC, with Canadians Daniel Gogarty and Luca Gasparotto as central defenders along with Diyaeedine Abzi and Steven Furlano on the wings. Canadians Kyle Porter, Emilio Esteves, Ryan Telfer and captain Manuel Aparicio in the midfield along with Roberto Gattas on the wing and Simon Adjei up front.

Former Canadian international and York9 FC coach Jim Brennan sent in Wataru Murofushi to replace Furlano at the 68th minute. Canadian Cyrus Rollocks came on for Gattas at the 83rd minute and Justin Springer replaced Esteves in the dying seconds of the game.

For the visiting AS Blainville, the starting XI featured goalkeeper Erwann Ofouya, behind Canadian defenders Idir Redjradj, captain Nafi Dicko-Raynault, Bila Dicko-Raynault and Mohamed Farsi. Canadians Omar Kreim, Wandrille Lefevre, Nicolas Bertrand, Mitchell Syla and Hoshang Noor-Ali started in midfield behind striker Hugo Chambon.

Visiting coach Emmanuel Macagno made a first substitution at the 61st minute when Canadian Maxime Leconte replaced Bertrand. Seven minutes later, Canadian Stefan Karajovanic made his first Canadian Championship appearance, subbing in for Chambon and Canadian Bilal Lachouri came on the field at the 82nd minute to replace Syla.