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Vancouver Sun
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Valour FC looks for 'miracle' against Whitecaps in Canadian Championship quarterfinal
Despite playing the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-2 draw in the opening leg of their Telus Canadian Championship quarterfinal, Winnipeg Valour FC coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos knows the odds are stacked against his Canadian Premier League team getting a result in Wednesday's return leg at B.C. Place . Dos Santos, a former Vancouver assistant coach, calls the Major League Soccer club 'arguably one of the best teams in North America and CONCACAF.' 'It would be a miracle, and that's the truth,' he said. 'But we've seen it. It's football, it's pro sports. … The truth is with the 2-2 (draw) we gave ourselves a chance to now play for one game. In football, crazier things have happened.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Is it the most important game of the club history? It's definitely up there,' he added. CF Montreal, trailing 1-0 after the first leg, hosts Hamilton Forge FC in the other quarterfinal second leg Wednesday. Vancouver is after its fourth-straight Voyageurs Cup, a feat only Toronto FC has accomplished (2009-12). The Whitecaps needed an 80th-minute goal from Ali Ahmed to pull even at Princess Auto Stadium in the first leg May 20. Sam Adekugbe opened the scoring for Vancouver in the sixth minute before Rocco Romeo and Bruno Figueiredo answered for Valour in the 28th and 51st minute. Both Vancouver goalscorers have since been sidelined by injury, playing for Canada. 'We've played a lot of football since. It's like you're starting a new competition,' said Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen. The Dane expects Valour 'to bring everything they've got.' 'I expect it to be a battle,' he added. 'And I expect them to want to battle. I hope we can avoid the battle by moving the ball very fast, but we'll have to see.' Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and striker Brian White return from Gold Cup duty with the United States. 'It's good finally to have this group back together. … We haven't been together in more than a month,' said Sorensen. 'And I think having the entire group back so we can progress instead of just fixing things on the fly, that will be important for us right now.' The two players return in differing form. While Berhalter played a lot of minutes for the U.S., White didn't, so is not in the game shape he was when he left the Whitecaps, Sorensen noted. The Valour game is also the first of four fixtures in 11 days for Vancouver, which is coming off a 3-0 loss at the lowly Los Angeles Galaxy and has gone 2-3-0 since the 5-0 loss to Mexico's Cruz Azul on June 1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. 'We've not even talked about the Cruz Azul game yet because it doesn't make much sense when players who were a big part of it have not been here,' said Sorensen. Valour, seventh in the eight-team CPL at 2-8-2, is coming off a rough stretch against the league's top three teams, losing 3-0 at No. 1 Atletico Ottawa, 5-0 to No. 2 Forge, and 3-1 at No. 3 Halifax. The Winnipeg side has won just one of its last six league outings (1-4-1) since the first leg of the quarterfinal. Still, Valour midfielder Kian Williams says he feels no pressure facing the MLS side. 'I feel like there's more pressure for them,' said the 25-year-old from England. Dos Santos spoke fondly about his time with the Whitecaps. He spent 2-1/2 years as an assistant to his brother Marc Dos Santos before both were let go in August 2021. 'At the end of the day, you were a part of a top organization, that is now collecting the fruits of the hard work and the struggles that they had to go through,' he said. 'I keep an eye on them. I have a lot of friends there still.' Dos Santos says his young son still wears a Whitecaps jersey. Valour defeated League1 B.C.'s TSS Rovers 1-0 in the first round while Vancouver had a bye. A draw will be held to determine the tournament semifinal pairings. After flying west for the cup game, Valour heads east to Toronto to play York United. The Whitecaps visit Colorado on Saturday.
Global News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Valour FC looks for ‘miracle' against Whitecaps in Canadian Championship quarterfinal
Despite playing the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-2 draw in the opening leg of their Telus Canadian Championship quarterfinal, Valour FC coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos knows the odds are stacked against his Canadian Premier League team getting a result in Wednesday's return leg at B.C. Place Stadium. Dos Santos, a former Vancouver assistant coach, calls the Major League Soccer club 'arguably one of the best teams in North America and CONCACAF.' 'It would be a miracle and that's the truth,' he said. 'But we've seen it. It's football, it's pro sports … The truth is with the 2-2 (draw) we gave ourselves a chance to now play for one game. In football, crazier things have happened.' 'Is it the most important game of the club history? It's definitely up there,' he added. CF Montreal, trailing 1-0 after the first leg, hosts Forge FC in the other quarterfinal second leg Wednesday. Story continues below advertisement Vancouver is after its fourth straight Voyageurs Cup, a feat only Toronto FC has accomplished (2009-12). The Whitecaps needed an 80th-minute goal from Ali Ahmed to pull even at Princess Auto Stadium in the first leg May 20. Sam Adekugbe opened the scoring for Vancouver in the sixth minute before Rocco Romeo and Bruno Figueiredo answered for Valour in the 28th and 51st minute. Both Vancouver goalscorers have since been sidelined by injury, playing for Canada. View image in full screen Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer, front left, hoists the Voyageurs Cup as goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, back right, applauds after Vancouver defeated Toronto FC on penalty kicks during the Canadian Championship final soccer match, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck. DD 'We've played a lot of football since. It's like you're starting a new competition,' said Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Dane expects Valour 'to bring everything they've got.' 'I expect it to be a battle,' he added. 'And I expect them to want to battle. I hope we can avoid the battle by moving the ball very fast but we'll have to see.' Story continues below advertisement Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and striker Brian White return from Gold Cup duty with the United States. 'It's good finally to have this group back together … We haven't been together in more than a month,' said Sorensen. 'And I think having the entire group back so we can progress instead of just fixing things on the fly, that will be important for us right now.' The two players return in differing form. While Berhalter played a lot of minutes for the U.S., White didn't so is not in the game shape he was when he left the Whitecaps, Sorensen noted. The Valour game is also the first of four fixtures in 11 days for Vancouver, which is coming off a 3-0 loss at the lowly Los Angeles Galaxy and has gone 2-3-0 since the 5-0 loss to Mexico's Cruz Azul on June 1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. 'We've not even talked about the Cruz Azul game yet because it doesn't make much sense when players who were a big part of it have not been here,' said Sorensen. Valour, seventh in the eight-team CPL at 2-8-2, is coming off a rough stretch against the league's top three teams, losing 3-0 at No. 1 Atletico Ottawa, 5-0 to No. 2 Forge and 3-1 at No. 3 Halifax. The Winnipeg side has won just one of its last six league outings (1-4-1) since the first leg of the quarterfinal. Story continues below advertisement Still, Valour midfielder Kian Williams says he feels no pressure facing the MLS side. 'I feel like there's more pressure for them,' said the 25-year-old from England. Dos Santos spoke fondly about his time with the Whitecaps. He spent 2 1/2 years as an assistant to his brother Marc Dos Santos before both were let go in August 2021. 'At the end of the day you were a part of a top organization, that is now collecting the fruits of the hard work and the struggles that they had to go through,' he said. 'I keep an eye on them. I have a lot of friends there still.' Dos Santos says his young son still wears a Whitecaps jersey. Valour defeated League1 B.C.'s TSS Rovers 1-0 in the first round while Vancouver had a bye. A draw will be held to determine the tournament semifinal pairings. After flying west for the cup game, Valour heads east to Toronto to play York United. The Whitecaps visit Colorado on Saturday.
Winnipeg Free Press
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Valour FC looks for ‘miracle' against Whitecaps in Canadian Championship quarterfinal
Despite playing the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-2 draw in the opening leg of their Telus Canadian Championship quarterfinal, Valour FC coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos knows the odds are stacked against his Canadian Premier League team getting a result in Wednesday's return leg at B.C. Place Stadium. Dos Santos, a former Vancouver assistant coach, calls the Major League Soccer club 'arguably one of the best teams in North America and CONCACAF.' 'It would be a miracle and that's the truth,' he said. 'But we've seen it. It's football, it's pro sports … The truth is with the 2-2 (draw) we gave ourselves a chance to now play for one game. In football, crazier things have happened.' 'Is it the most important game of the club history? It's definitely up there,' he added. CF Montreal, trailing 1-0 after the first leg, hosts Forge FC in the other quarterfinal second leg Wednesday. Vancouver is after its fourth straight Voyageurs Cup, a feat only Toronto FC has accomplished (2009-12). The Whitecaps needed an 80th-minute goal from Ali Ahmed to pull even at Princess Auto Stadium in the first leg May 20. Sam Adekugbe opened the scoring for Vancouver in the sixth minute before Rocco Romeo and Bruno Figueiredo answered for Valour in the 28th and 51st minute. Both Vancouver goalscorers have since been sidelined by injury, playing for Canada. 'We've played a lot of football since. It's like you're starting a new competition,' said Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen. The Dane expects Valour 'to bring everything they've got.' 'I expect it to be a battle,' he added. 'And I expect them to want to battle. I hope we can avoid the battle by moving the ball very fast but we'll have to see.' Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and striker Brian White return from Gold Cup duty with the United States. 'It's good finally to have this group back together … We haven't been together in more than a month,' said Sorensen. 'And I think having the entire group back so we can progress instead of just fixing things on the fly, that will be important for us right now.' The two players return in differing form. While Berhalter played a lot of minutes for the U.S., White didn't so is not in the game shape he was when he left the Whitecaps, Sorensen noted. The Valour game is also the first of four fixtures in 11 days for Vancouver, which is coming off a 3-0 loss at the lowly Los Angeles Galaxy and has gone 2-3-0 since the 5-0 loss to Mexico's Cruz Azul on June 1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. 'We've not even talked about the Cruz Azul game yet because it doesn't make much sense when players who were a big part of it have not been here,' said Sorensen. Valour, seventh in the eight-team CPL at 2-8-2, is coming off a rough stretch against the league's top three teams, losing 3-0 at No. 1 Atletico Ottawa, 5-0 to No. 2 Forge and 3-1 at No. 3 Halifax. The Winnipeg side has won just one of its last six league outings (1-4-1) since the first leg of the quarterfinal. Still, Valour midfielder Kian Williams says he feels no pressure facing the MLS side. 'I feel like there's more pressure for them,' said the 25-year-old from England. Dos Santos spoke fondly about his time with the Whitecaps. He spent 2 1/2 years as an assistant to his brother Marc Dos Santos before both were let go in August 2021. 'At the end of the day you were a part of a top organization, that is now collecting the fruits of the hard work and the struggles that they had to go through,' he said. 'I keep an eye on them. I have a lot of friends there still.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Dos Santos says his young son still wears a Whitecaps jersey. Valour defeated League1 B.C.'s TSS Rovers 1-0 in the first round while Vancouver had a bye. A draw will be held to determine the tournament semifinal pairings. After flying west for the cup game, Valour heads east to Toronto to play York United. The Whitecaps visit Colorado on Saturday. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘There's more pressure for them'
Do you believe in miracles? Valour FC better, because that's what it's going to take to escape BC Place Wednesday night with a win over Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship. It all comes down to this match — which kicks off at 9 p.m. CT — as the two sides settled for a 2-2 draw when they met in the first leg back in Winnipeg on May 20. 'It would be a miracle, and that's the truth,' admitted Valour head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos on Monday. 'But we've seen it. It's football, it's pro sports. These things could happen.' In their first meeting, Vancouver fielded a starting 11 of mostly backups, but with this showdown taking place in their own building, they're expected to roll with a roster that closer resemblances the one that has them in second place in the MLS Western Conference standings at 11-4-5. The Canadian Championship features pro and semi-pro teams across the country battling for the Voyageurs Cup and the right to represent the nation at the CONCACAF Champions Cup. 'It's the Cup, anything is possible, and for me, that's what I believe. That's always kind of the mentality in England is anything can happen in Cup (tournaments),' said Valour midfielder Kian Williams, who hails from Leicester. 'I feel like there's no pressure. There's more pressure for them… I'm just looking forward to it, to be honest.' The last time Valour hit the road to play the Whitecaps was in the preliminary round of the 2022 Canadian Championship where they fell 2-0. In last year's Canadian Championship, Forge FC made the CPL proud by knocking out MLS' CF Montreal in the quarters. 'It's gonna take a lot, and I think we know that. I know for me, I'm willing to give everything and for sure all the boys are,' said Williams. 'As soon as you go to a team like the Whitecaps, you know it's going to be a tough game. You've got to be switched on for the full 90 minutes and you've got to give everything you can… I think you just go in there and just execute everything we've worked hard on this week, and I believe we can do that.' While the Whitecaps are dominating the MLS, Valour is crumbling in the Canadian Premier League. Winnipeg's professional soccer club has lost three straight and has been outscored 11-1 during that stretch. Their most recent defeat was a 3-1 loss on Canada Day against the HFX Wanderers. Valour has eight points in 12 league tilts, which has them in seventh place in the eight-team circuit with a 2-8-2 record. 'We need to find a way to turn things around. For me, the first thing is the guys can't quit. It's going to be about the mentality of the guys, the locker room, and that in challenges we stay together,' said Dos Santos. 'And you know, what a game. What a game when you think about it… If you would've asked me (if) this could be the game that turns the season around, or which game you want to play to turn a season around, I would tell you that this is the best one.' The Whitecaps have won the Canadian Championship three years in a row. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. They're a franchise Dos Santos knows very well as he was an assistant with them from 2018-21 under his brother Marc Dos Santos. The two were let go on Aug. 27, 2021, shortly after the Whitecaps were upset by the CPL's Pacific FC in the Canadian Championship. Vancouver was in last place in the Western Conference at the time. 'Yes, football wise, there were challenges. There were a lot of struggles with the early days of the foundation that they built today. But at the end of the day, you were part of an organization that is now, how can I say, collecting the fruits of hard work and the struggles that they had to go through,' said Dos Santos. 'I keep an eye on them and have a lot of friends there still… There's a lot of people in that organization that I still care for and that I still love so, yeah, it's always good to get to play them.' Valour will head to Toronto for their next CPL outing when they square off against York United (4-6-3) on Sunday. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘I feel more disappointed for the fans'
Valour FC head coach Phillip Dos Santos called his club's performance on Sunday a 'disaster,' and yet that still doesn't feel harsh enough. Winnipeg's professional soccer club was smacked 5-0 at home against Forge FC, which is the third worst defeat in the franchise's seven-year history. Valour's biggest beating came on Sept. 2, 2019, in an 8-0 shellacking at the boots of Cavalry FC. They also suffered a 7-0 drubbing courtesy of Atlético Ottawa in last year's Canadian Championship. 'We can't dwell on things… maybe in three or four days, we'll be over it and back at believing in the fact that we're gonna go play 90 minutes and it's 90 minutes to win. But everything is very fresh today,' Dos Santos told the Free Press on Monday. 'Emotionally, the group takes a hit when you take a loss like this one at home. So, obviously, we need a few days to pick ourselves up and move forward.' Valour now sits at 2-7-2 in wins, losses and draws on the year with just eight points through 11 Canadian Premier League matches. Forge has yet to lose, as Sunday's showing pushed them to 6-0-5. A weather delay pushed the kickoff time back half an hour. Another weather delay, owing to lightning in the area, was called in the second half. 'I feel more disappointed for the fans. They're the guys that pay money to watch us play and come with their families,' said third-year Valour midfielder Kian Williams, who hails from Leicester, England. 'It's a tough one. Me, personally, I try to give my best, and when we lose like that, I feel for them because that's who we play for. We represent the city and soccer in the city, so, when we lose games, I take it personally.' Forge forward Brian Wright scored a hat-trick in the match's opening 45 minutes. Valour has surrendered a league-high 14 first half goals — and 26 overall — which leads all CPL clubs. Forge, Cavalry and HFX Wanderers FC have all allowed less than 14 goals total this season. 'There's not one issue. There's a lot of issues,' admitted Williams. 'I feel right now, maybe, like, the backline and frontline are disconnected. To be honest, I don't blame the coaches, I blame us players. I take responsibility, we're the guys on the pitch and we need to try to sort it. That's how I feel. It's tough to pinpoint one thing or one person because it's a collective.' One of the biggest issues is the inability to put the ball in the back of the net. Valour has just nine tallies so far this summer which is tied with last-place Vancouver FC for the second fewest in the eight-team circuit. Valour managed just one shot on net on Sunday. 'I won't lie, me personally, I like to be aggressive… and that comes with taking risks, being high up on the pitch — the kind of football fans want to see — being up there and being in the other team's face,' said Williams. 'And I feel like to be that kind of team, where we're attacking a lot and creating a lot of chances, that's the type of football we need to be more consistent in playing. I feel like when that isn't happening, it's because, you know, all it takes is one or two players not being on the same page… I think it's about just being clear in everyone knowing their roles and being a team. That's the main thing, I think.' Valour supporters have every right to be frustrated, and Williams doesn't disagree. This is an organization that is still searching for its first post-season berth, and while it is a 28-game season with still lots of soccer left to be played, the early signs are far from encouraging. 'I think it's beyond talking. There needs to be a change. I don't think talking is even gonna sort it. We need action. The fans need action,' said Williams. 'I think it's about solving it on the pitch, to be honest… I think it's about playing as a team. If there's a game plan, everyone is all in or nothing. And being accountable individually, rooting for your teammates, and just being an honest teammate. Trying your best for the team, trying your best for the fans. Play with a purpose, don't just play to play, play like it's your last game, every game.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Valour has the week to work on themselves as they don't return to competition until their Canada Day afternoon showdown in Halifax against the Wanderers (6-3-3). From there, they'll travel across the country to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS to play the second leg of their Canadian Championship quarterfinal on July 9. In what was the highlight of their season so far, Valour earned a 2-2 draw against the Whitecaps in the first leg back on May 20 at home. Valour is currently six points out of the CPL's fifth and final playoff spot with a game in hand. Their next match at Princess Auto Stadium takes place July 20 against Cavalry. 'We need to bring the players into a way where they find consistency where they're able to repeat performances and get back-to-back-to-back performances over and over again,' said Dos Santos. 'I think that's been the story of the club where you find a team that could go neck and neck with any rival and, suddenly, you go from very high levels of performance to playing a game like the one (Sunday). Margins are very small and, for us, that's the work we need to be doing. I think that's the No. 1 thing for us.' Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
