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Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League
Analysis: Last-Gasp Sellouf Winner Gives 10-Man Vancouver FC Breathing Room
By As was the trend throughout the weekend, Sunday’s match between Valour FC and Vancouver FC had to wait until the last minute to find a winner, as Ayman Sellouf got his debut goal for Vancouver FC to beat Valour 2-1 in Winnipeg.
Determination Makes Up For Mistakes
Vancouver FC knew going into this match how high the stakes were. Valour FC were just three points behind Vancouver FC in the CPL table, where Vancouver FC hold the last play-off spot. Valour FC were on a decent run before this weekend, winning three out of their last four, including wins against Forge FC at home and Pacific FC away. Meanwhile, Vancouver FC had just lost yet another home match against Forge FC the week before.
To lose was to give up your playoff spot. To win was to make it a more comfortable six-point lead. Perhaps that is why the Eagles had a more measured start compared to previous matches, allowing Valour to retain more possession but struggle to produce many chances with it. Despite dominating most of the match, it was actually Vancouver who opened the scoring, thanks to some individual brilliance from Gabriel Bitar at the half-hour mark.
Much of the match was hanging in the balance after that goal as Valour began to throw everything forward as the game wore on, while Vancouver FC continued to sit deep to defend and tried to hit Valour on the break. But the cracks began to show in the last half-hour, exemplified by James Cameron’s second yellow at the hour mark. Cameron had already gotten an early card in the first half, but still pulled down his man out wide and got his marching orders, leaving his side to defend a one-goal lead with 30 minutes to play.
From there it was one-way traffic with Valour FC throwing the kitchen sink to try to find that equalizer. To their credit, Vancouver FC did well to hold on for the majority of that time, including some important blocks from the defensive partners of Allan Enyou and Rocco Romeo, as well as a few spectacular saves from captain Callum Irving to deny Valour that all-important goal. But then in the 88th minute, the man who perhaps wanted a goal the most out of all of Valour’s squad in Shaan Hundal fired home a close-range goal to put Valour fully in the ascendancy. It was a bitter blow that looked to be the set-up for a knock-out punch. That is, until a certain Ayman Sellouf had something else to say about it.
Ayman Sellouf: The Spark That’s Been Missing
Looking back at the trade deal done at the beginning of this month between Pacific and Vancouver FC, the transaction made sense. Putting the rumours of behind-the-scenes bust-ups behind, both teams were needing what the other was willing to part with. For Pacific, they were goal-starving, and Moses Dyer had it in him to bag goals. But what Vancouver FC needed was a bit more abstract. They didn’t need a clear out-and-out goalscorer, for they had Alejandro Diaz up top and he was keeping pace with the top goalscorers in the league. Instead, what they needed was somebody that had something special. Someone that could take upon him to shoulder the burden and turn the game on its head with one deft move. A player that could get the crowd on their feet and make something happen with the ball in his control. Enter Ayman Sellouf.
The tricky, young Dutch winger came into the league last year to much excitement. He repaid that excitement with scintillating displays in the first half of the 2023 season, before his performances petered out towards the back half of last season. The start of this season didn’t go much better for Sellouf as his only contributions were goals from the penalty spot for Pacific.
Everyone knew that the quality was there, as he still drove at defenders when given the opportunity, but it just wasn’t the same spark that it was when he first came onto the Canadian scene. With Vancouver FC, he has a fresh slate to restart his career at. It’s a team that has plenty of quality to support him, as well as forwards that can finish off his attacking moves. What they need is exactly what he can offer: that spark to turn the tides.
Well it didn’t take long for that spark to ignite into a burst of flame, as deep into added time, with Valour a man up and full momentum behind their sails, Ayman Sellouf got the ball on the right side of the pitch. Showcasing exactly what he can bring to the table, the Dutch winger cut inside, danced past two markers and fired a clinical strike into near post to give Vancouver FC a shock win against the run of play. Elation ensued, as the benches were cleared to celebrate what was a truly magical goal to witness. That goal instantly endeared himself to his new supporters, but more importantly proved to everyone watching that he still had it in him to be that game-changer for his team. Perhaps now, given his immediate hit at his new club, it will be more appreciated.
Momentum Must Be Capitalized On For Last Eight Games
There is no two ways about it: this win is massive for Vancouver FC. Not only does it snap what could have been yet another dry spell of poor performances against anyone who isn’t named Pacific FC, but it put some breathing room between themselves and their nearest competitor for the last play-off spot in the league. Now with eight games left in the season, Vancouver FC must capitalize on the joy from this huge result and string together some more points.
Last year, the last quarter of the season was the best time for Vancouver FC, who managed to get on a run of form winning three out of their last five matches and lift themselves out of last place. This year, Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi will look to his side to replicate that kind of form in the last eight rounds of the league. This includes tough away trips to Atletico Ottawa (twice), Cavalry, and Halifax, as well as hosting top of the table Forge FC (again) and York United. This run is by no means easy for the Eagles, but they cannot back down from the challenge.
They must be able to steal some more rogue results away form home as well as make good on their few home games they have left (which has been a suprisingly sore spot for them this season). Given the strength in depth and quality on the pitch, Ghotbi and company will have no excuse for not making it to the playoffs, especially after the start they had to the season. Therefore, this team needs to band together and play some of the best football they’ve ever played, or else risk their season falling to bitter disappointment.
Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League
