Latest news with #KrisTwardek
Global News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Valour FC gets out of basement in front of record-breaking crowd
Valour FC gave some students plenty to cheer about in their inaugural school day match. The Winnipeg club scored three times in a game for the first time all season as they defeated Vancouver FC 3-1 in front of a record-breaking crowd Wednesday morning at Princess Auto Stadium. The announced attendance was 11,390, which shattered their old record by almost two-thousand fans as 9,699 attended their first-ever match back in 2019. Valour fell behind one-nil in the 17th minute, but they scored late in the half and then added two more markers in the second half for just their second league victory of the season. 'Emotionally the guys were hyped and they felt the energy,' said Valour FC general manager and head coach Phillip Dos Santos. 'You go down one-zero and sometimes the balloon can deflate and they didn't. Story continues below advertisement 'Very, very happy with, yes, the outcome, but again, I feel that the team has been growing, and for me that's the most important.' 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 Kris Twardek, Kelsey Egwu, and Jordan Faria scored the goals for Valour, while Emrick Fotsing replied in the loss. The win leapfrogs Valour FC past Vancouver and into a tie for sixth place in the Canadian Premier League standings after not getting the desired result in a nil-nil draw on Sunday. 'Huge,' said Twardek. 'For morale, it's massive. We obviously have a little bit of a gap between games now, so it gives you real positive emotions to sit on for, I don't know, 10 days or so. 'Naturally it was a really, really quick turnaround. We felt we should have beat Pacific. We felt that we were pressing for a goal, so when today started we went in hungry, ready to get chances, and to score goals today.' Both teams played the second half with only 10 men after Gianfranco Facchineri and Kunle Dada-Luke were issued red cards after an altercation that ended with a shoving match late in the opening half. Valour FC forward Shaan Hundal was stopped on a penalty kick in the 51st minute. Valour is now unbeaten in their last five straight matches on the home pitch. They now have two wins, five losses, and two draws in their first nine league matches of the season. Story continues below advertisement They now get a 10-day break with their next match Sunday, June 15 on the road against Atletico Ottawa.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Valour denied by Wanderers' late goal
More than six months had passed since Valour FC last played a match at home. The last contest was marred by disappointment for Winnipeg's pro soccer club, which had an outside chance at the Canadian Premier League playoffs with a win on that chilly fall afternoon. Instead, a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Cavalry FC, underscored by a penalty kick goal in the 89th minute, ended Valour's season. Daniel Crump / Free Press Winnipeg midfielder Kris Twardek (left) beats Halifax attacker Wesley Timóteo to a header Friday night during Valour FC's home opener at Princess Auto Stadium. Enough time had passed for those scars to fade as Valour stepped onto its home pitch Friday for the first time this season, but they walked away with a similar wound. On this seasonably warm spring evening, a goal from Halifax Wanderers midfielder Vitor Dias in extra time sent the Winnipeg side home pointless after a 1-0 decision at Princess Auto Stadium. Valour, 0-1-2, is still looking for its first win of the season, while the Wanderers continued their undefeated start, improving to 3-1-0. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Former Valour goalkeeper Rayane Yesli made four saves for the Wanderers to earn his first clean sheet of the season. Jonathan Viscosi stopped five shots in a near-perfect outing for the hosts. Improving at home will be a point of emphasis for Winnipeg's side after going 5-7-2 on their pitch last season. As expected, the club's defence has been solid for the most part, breaking four times in the first three contests. Daniel Crump / Free Press Valor defender Zachary Fernandez moves the ball upfield. However, Valour scored more than one goal on three occasions when hosting last summer, and their scoring woes have continued to begin the new campaign. They own one goal through 270 minutes of play. Valour will look for more scoring opportunities when they host Vancouver FC (0-2-1) on Saturday, May 3 (6 p.m.). — staff Daniel Crump / Free Press Valour midfielder Xavier Catarino Venâncio (right) challenges a Wanderers player. Daniel Crump / Free Press Valour midfielder Diogo Dias da Ressurreição (left) dispossesses Wanderers midfielder Sean Rea. Daniel Crump / Free Press Valor Midfielder Kris Twardek (11) battles against Halifax attacker Wesely Timóteo.
