Ricci brace, Sirois five-save clean sheet give Valour FC 3-0 victory over York United

WINNIPEG — Two goals by Austin Ricci and a league-leading sixth clean sheet for Jonathan Sirois gave Valour FC a 3-0 victory over York United FC in Canadian Premier League play Sunday.

Valour (6-1-0) have won three in a row as they extended their lead atop the CPL standings to six points over second-place Forge FC. 

Ricci found the back of the net in the 42nd and 73rd minutes. He leads the league with four goals this season.

Stefan Cebara also scored for the Winnipeg-based club in the 18th minute of play.

Sirois stopped five shots for his sixth clean sheet in as many appearances. The Valour goalkeeper has not conceded a goal in 540 minutes, stopping all 21 shots he faced. 

York United (1-3-3) outshot the league’s top team 18-8 (5-4 in shots on target).

Later Sunday, Kyle Porter scored an 86th-minute equalizer to secure a point for FC Edmonton in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Ottawa. 

Porter’s late goal came off a corner kick that was misplayed by Ottawa goalkeeper Dylon Powley, who made six saves on the night.

Zachary Verhoven scored in the fourth minute for Atletico Ottawa (2-4-1).

Last-place Edmonton (1-3-2) had 62.5 per cent of the possession and outshot the opposition 19-9. 

The eight CPL teams are playing at Winnipeg’s IG Field for the first part of the season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2021.

The Canadian Press