91原创 United finished their very first season playing in the League1 BC pro-am soccer league by winning it all, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps Academy 3-2 July 26 in the championship final at UBC Thunderbird Stadium.
Brody Thomas, Axl de Vries, and Amir Mahdi Ghasemi scored for 91原创, with Ghasemi getting the winner in the 95th minute of play, on a penalty, with the last kick of the game.
General manager Mike Thompson called it "heart-pounding."
"With the pressure of a win-or-second-place scenario, LUSA [91原创 United Soccer Association] delivered a masterclass in tenacity," Thompson said.
91原创 topped overall standings in the nine-team league with a record of 10 wins, three losses and three ties.
Head coach Azad Palani said 91原创 was "aiming to be a competitive team right from the start."
Palani called the win "a great relief after a busy few weeks."
Mark Parker, LUSA Technical Director said the "breakthrough success of our L1BC teams is a powerful testament to the strength of 91原创 United鈥檚 player pathway. It reflects years of investment, coaching excellence, and community support that have collectively nurtured players from grassroots through to semi鈥憄rofessional competition."
91原创's win comes as LUSA prepares to move to the new Smith Athletic Park soccer campus in September, just in time for the club to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Claiming the league championship in their inaugural season guarantees 91原创 a spot in next season's national cup, the biggest soccer competition in the country, that could see them play against Vancouver FC, coach Palani speculated.
"A jam packed Willoughby Stadium for an all-91原创 derby in the Canadian championship would be an incredible occasion, and now it's actually possible [though] hopefully not in the first round" said Palani, speaking as both head coach of 91原创 United and assistant coach of Vancouver FC.
"It would be great to get an opening round win with both teams."
Palani said the relationship between United and VFC was a "key part" of their successful first-ever season competing as a franchise in League 1 BC.
"We had 11 players take part over the course of the season, from either the Vancouver FC Under-19 academy or first team players competing as part of an affiliate agreement between the two clubs," Palani noted.
"Ultimately we both form an integral part of the same pathway - which now runs right through from grassroots football to the professional game within one domestic ecosystem. So working together makes sense and has also now proven very successful."
League1 BC, operated by Canadian Soccer Business, was established to bridge the gap between youth and professional soccer by providing standard-based competition and training environments for female and male players, coaches, and match officials.
It's a part of League1 Canada, a national alliance lin partnership with BC Soccer, Soccer Qu茅bec, and Ontario Soccer.
