York United look to extend their unbeaten streak in the CPL to five matches as they host Vancouver FC on Saturday afternoon at York Lions Stadium.
The Nine Stripes' most recent meeting with Vancouver FC, a gritty 1-0 victory, was an incredibly important moment in their season so far. It snapped a six-match winless streak, made especially frustrating by the fact that York led in five of those matches.
Since that victory over the Eagles, York have lost just once in league action, and have solidified themselves in fifth place over recent weeks, six points above the playoff line. They have also closed the gap on fourth-place Cavalry to just four points.
The Nine Stripes have dominated recent meetings, going undefeated in their past nine against Vancouver FC, and winning seven of those matches. That includes both meetings this season so far -- and they have not conceded against the BC club in their past three meetings.
All three of York United's goals against Vancouver FC this season have been scored by Julian Altobelli. He scored a brace in his CPL debut back in a 2-0 victory for the Nine Stripes in Langley in both clubs' opening match on April 6. Altobelli currently sits second in the CPL in goals, with eight.
York also announced the signing of Vancouver FC's first-ever goalscorer Shaan Hundal on Thursday, who scored the Eagles' inaugural goal at York Lions Stadium, no less. The Brampton, Ont. native is just the latest local player that the Nine Stripes have brought home.
Vancouver, meanwhile, will see this match as an opportunity to begin the second half of their season by closing the gap on the playoff line -- which they are currently ten points beneath. They are coming off of a week that they hope will ignite a playoff push for the rest of the season. The Eagles defeated Cavalry in penalties to reach the Canadian Championship semi-final for the first time, before drawing 0-0 with the Calgary club in the league.
A win on Saturday, and they close the gap on York to seven points. Should they lose, that number balloons to 13. This is a true six-point swing match in the Eagles' playoff hopes.
Both sides are facing significant absences due to suspensions. Vancouver FC's star player, Nicolás Mezquida, was sent off against Cavalry FC this past weekend, and will miss the next two matches after his appeal was denied. Vasco Fry, meanwhile, also misses out on Saturday's contest due to yellow card accumulation.
The Nine Stripes will be forced to make adjustments on the left side of their backline, as left central defender Oswaldo León and left wing-back Orlando Botello are both serving yellow card suspensions as well. Steffen Yeates will also be unavailable through injury.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
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Plenty of players to watch against their old team: For whatever reason, over the past few years, York United and Vancouver FC have seen a lot of players move between the two clubs. That adds a certain extra level of intrigue to Saturday's match, as players look to impress against their former side. For York, Kembo Kibato, who joined them in September from the Eagles, has emerged as one of their top players in recent weeks and would surely love to show that to his former team. For Eagle Gabriel Bitar would also be keen to make an impact in this game, especially since Adonijah Reid has been the preferred option lately. York also recently added Vancouver FC's first-ever goalscorer, Shaan Hundal. On the Vancouver side, veteran full-back Paris Gee remains an important player for that group, while Matteo Campagna made his pro debut with York back in 2021. Even the Vancouver coaching staff features former York United goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos. A lot of familiarity, which will breed plenty of intrigue in this match.
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Adonijah Reid igniting the York attack: For much of this season, Julian Altobelli has been the focal point of York United's attack. Over the past few matches, however, Adonijah Reid has emerged as a key offensive catalyst next to him. Two games ago, Reid had a goal and an assist in a 2-2 draw against Forge. Then this past weekend against Valour, he won a crucial penalty just before half-time, which allowed Altobelli to equalize, before scoring the match-winner in the second half. Playing his most confident and best football of the season, Reid will provide a significant challenge for Vancouver. Reid has yet to score against the Eagles, despite spending the past two seasons with their rivals Pacific FC. He would love to change that on Saturday, and given his form, it isn't a bad bet.
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Vancouver FC looking to match York's offensive consistency: If there has been one calling card for this York United team this season, it is that they can score goals. Only once, in a 0-0 draw with league-leaders Atlético Ottawa, have they been held scoreless across now 17 matches in all competitions. Vancouver would love to replicate that level of finished product. Half their goals in CPL action this season came in two matches, a recent 4-4 draw with Pacific FC, and their lone victory, 3-1 against Valour back on May 3. They have been shut out in a further six of their 14 matches so far. Finding attacking consistency in the second half of the season is going to be vital to Vancouver's success. A great place to start would be a club that Vancouver haven't scored against this season -- York United.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
York United: Pavela; Singh, Sturing, Higgins; Ferrazzo, Kibato, Accettola, Ferrari; Reid, Ferrin, Altobelli
Vancouver FC: Irving; Enyou, O'Connor, Campagna, Dada-Luke; Norman Jr., Essoussi; Gee, Batista, Bah; Ndiaye
ALL-TIME SERIES
York United wins: 8 || Vancouver FC wins: 1 || Draws: 2
Last meeting:
May 25, 2025 — York United 1-0 Vancouver FC
KEY QUOTES
"I think the biggest thing right now that we've been talking to the players and as a group is to continue to be humble and hungry. I think we can't be satisfied with where we are or what we're doing, because at the end of the day, yes, we're in a good moment, on a good streak, but at the end of the day, we're still in fifth. So we've still got a lot of points to catch up on." -- York United head coach Mauro Eustáquio
"I'm excited to be home, see my family, friends after I think five, six years of not being home during the summers in Toronto. But on the other end of it, I'm excited to be part of an organization that has culture, a philosophy, and just a winning mentality going into every game." -- York United forward Shaan Hundal
"If we're able to finish our chances, we put ourselves in a good position. I think York is a team that if they are leading or if they are comfortable with just defending, they're a very good counter-attacking team. I believe that's something we have to be very mindful of in our approach to the game. How we organized ourselves behind the ball in attack, how we are able to be the team that scores the first goal. Unfortunately both of the games this year, we have not scored a goal against them. I think that's concerning, but I think we're a much better team than the first two times we played them." -- Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi
"I think a lot of it is the mental part of the game. They're feisty, they're chippy...we've just have to keep moving on to the next action, and the next action and make sure these guys don't get under our skin." -- Vancouver FC defender Paris Gee