York United FC are now 10 unbeaten against Vancouver FC after the team's most dominant result yet against the Eagles, a 4-0 victory on Saturday at York Lions Stadium.
Vancouver FC endured what head coach Afshin Ghotbi called a tough defeat this Saturday against York United in Toronto, Ont.
The challenges began in the previous match week when key Eagles player Nicolas Mezquida was sent off, earning a suspension for this game.
The club appealed the decision in hopes of having the suspension revised, but the appeal was unsuccessful in what many considered a controversial ruling. Mezquida received a two-game suspension and will also be unable to suit up for the next match.
Meanwhile, midfielder Vasco Fry, another vital player of the squad, also picked up a yellow card and was suspended.
Adding to the list of absences were Emrick Fotsing and Terran Campbell, losses that collectively made the task against York even more difficult, said Ghotbi.
Then on the pitch, the match got off to a rough start for the Eagles with York opening the scoring just three minutes in.
The rest of the first half remained quiet, with few threatening chances created by either side.
After the break, Vancouver tried to come back and take control, forcing York to adjust and play at their pace.
However, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
Ghotbi鈥檚 squad conceded three more goals in the second half, including three from familiar faces, former VFC players Gabriel Bitar, Shaan Hundal, and Kembo Kibato, who helped seal the victory and neutralize any hopes of a Vancouver comeback.
"I'm disappointed to take three goals in seven minutes, that's not really who we are," Ghotbi shared after the game.
"I'm disappointed about, of course, the result, and overall just the way we played this game. We move on, we grow, we learn from it and we go after the next game. But congratulations to York because I think they played a very good game," he said.
This is the fourth consecutive match, and third this season already, that the Eagles have failed to score against York United. As a result, they now slip 13 points below the playoff line. Meanwhile, York remains in fifth place, a spot they have held for some time now.
Amid the challenges, there was a silver lining for Eagles fans: the opportunity to see promising young talents like Thomas Powell, T.J. Tahid, and Kevin Podgorni take the field.
While their impact was limited, their presence on the pitch marked an important step in the development of local talent, said Ghotbi.
With an incomplete squad, Vancouver now returns home to prepare for its next match against Winnipeg's Valour FC, and an opportunity to turn things around with key players set to return and new additions expected to join the squad.
The match against Valour is set to kick off at the stadium in Willoughby Community Park on Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m.
