York United Vanquishes Valour In Playoff Race

As the sun blared down on the hot turf pitch at York Lions Stadium this weekend, the hosts got the job done as a lone goal from Julian Altobelli proved enough to secure all three points.

The result now means that York United is guaranteed at least the fifth playoff spot, mathematically eliminating Winnipeg’s Valour FC from playoff contention. This moment marks the fourth time York United has reached postseason, and the seventh straight time Valour will miss out on it entirely.

While Altobelli’s tenth goal of the season proved the difference-maker, YUFC head coach Mauro Eustaquio also tested out a back four and a new formation after it was confirmed that key centre-back Oswaldo Leon will be facing a ten-match ban in addition to the three games already served for his earlier ejection against the Halifax Wanderers.

This is Eustaquio’s first season at the helm of York United after having assisted both Martin Nash and Benjamin Mora over the previous three seasons. The 32-year-old makes history as the first former CPL player to guide a team to playoffs in a head coach capacity.

With three games left to go, York is one point above fifth-place Halifax and just three points behind Cavalry, meaning the Nine Stripes can finish as high as third – which would be a club record playoff position – depending on how results go.

Statistics wise, there isn’t a lot separating York United from those other two in league standings: they’re scoring just about the same amount of goals with similar defensive records. Eustaquio’s York United is actually scoring more than Benjamin Mora’s, with Julian Altobelli’s early-season hot form being something to focus on. The attacker has only put in one full ninety since July, so keeping the striker fit will be integral to the club’s playoff hopes.

For the Valour faithful, the result cements an expectation that has loomed since the club took over a month into the season to gets it first win: playoffs, yet again, would prove out of reach. The Winnipeg-based team is the only CPL launch team never to have tasted postseason action, with Phillip Dos Santos at the helm for the club’s five latest campaigns. He’s seen the side finish fifth twice when playoffs were top four only and bottom twice over the last two years, with a position of sixth to eighth now the only possibilities for him this year.

With the offseason having seen the side bring in players like Kris Twardek and Zachary Fernandez, there was optimism that 2025 might be something different for the Winnipeggers – but, as they’ve gotten used to saying, there’s always next year. The team actually outpaced Pacific for goals this season, but after conceding 55 goals in 25 games at the defensive end, it’s clear where the improvements need to be made.

With Pacific having been eliminated earlier this weekend and Vancouver FC still trying to avoid a league-record worst season at the bottom, the 2025 Canadian Premier League playoffs now have their participants locked in, even if the final league positions aren’t certain: Forge, Atletico Ottawa, Cavalry FC, York United, and Halifax Wanderers will enter the fray next month.

Header Image Photo Credit: Denys Rudenko