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FC Supra du Québec vs. Vancouver FC |
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A six-pointer, plain and simple. With just two points separating them, Vancouver FC and Supra have an opportunity to deal a potentially decisive blow to their opponent.
A Vancouver FC victory would put the British Columbia side in a commanding position to reach the playoffs. With a win, Vancouver FC would move five points ahead of Supra, their main rival for a playoff spot, with just two matches remaining in the season.
Conversely, a Supra victory would allow the Québec side to overtake their opponents with a one-point lead, putting their playoff destiny in their own hands. The result would be even more significant given that, on paper, Supra's remaining schedule appears more manageable than Vancouver FC's.
In the final two matchdays, Supra will host Inter Toronto, whom they nearly eliminated from playoff contention in their last meeting, before travelling to Halifax, who are not in a particularly strong position.
Vancouver FC, meanwhile, will host Halifax before travelling to Calgary for the final matchday, when Cavalry will undoubtedly be fighting for the regular-season title and a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
For Vancouver FC, the pace of their wide players will once again be one of their main weapons, as it has been throughout the season.
Elage Bah leads the team in assists with five, while Mohamed Amissi is the club's top scorer with seven goals this season. However, Amissi's fitness will need to be assessed, as he has just returned from international duty with Burundi and had to endure a very long journey.
The full-backs are also valuable assets for Martin Nash's side, as demonstrated by Morey Doner's outstanding season and his recent attacking contributions. He has scored twice in the last two matches.
Vancouver FC will nevertheless need to keep an eye on the centre of their defence, as that is precisely where their recent opponents have found ways through to score.
For Supra, the team appears to have addressed its late-game issues and is conceding far fewer goals in the closing minutes.
Set pieces, however, remain a concern. Supra conceded four of Cavalry's six goals from set pieces before conceding another against Inter Toronto.
Fitness and the ability to maintain a high tempo could prove decisive in this match.
FC Supra will be playing its third match of the week against Vancouver, while Martin Nash's men have just come through a two-week break without a game.
Since Kyt Selaidopoulos took charge of Supra, the Montréal side has remained unbeaten and recorded two consecutive victories. It is also the first time this season that Supra has managed to win back-to-back matches.
Loïc Kwemi, the league's leading scorer with 14 goals, and Diyaeddine Abzi have had a significant impact on those two victories. The striker has scored three goals across the two matches, while the left-back has scored once and provided two assists.
With so much at stake this season and both teams boasting players in good form, this match promises plenty of excitement.
NEWS & NOTES
- Called up by Burundi for the qualifiers for the next Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Amissi has returned to Vancouver.
- Suspended for the previous match in Toronto, Matisse Chrétien is back for Supra.
- FC Supra's David Choinière and Keesan Ferdinand are doubtful for the match.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
FC Supra: Milli; Brault-Guillard, Chrétien, Auguste, Abzi; Sissoko, Biello, Rea; Bayiha, Kwemi, Condé
Vancouver FC: Irving; Proctor, Campagna, Field, Doner; Polisi, Toomey, Fotsing; Bah, Mousset, Amissi
KEY QUOTES
“The key to the match will be to play for 120 minutes. After that, we'll adjust our tactics based on what the opposition gives us, but at the end of the day, it's about playing for 120 minutes and winning our duels. Why do I talk about 120 minutes? Because the mentality has to be to play for as long as possible. If I tell them 90 minutes, maybe they'll want to play for only 80. For me, 120 minutes is what you play when you win a championship, win trophies and achieve success. Working as hard as possible is the key to success." - FC Supra head coach Kyt Selaidopoulos
It was a little unusual because we haven’t played in a while, but the guys are in a good frame of mind and they’re ready to get back out there. This is an extremely important match for both clubs.
[In our previous meetings against Supra], we’ve been solid defensively. They have a lot of talent up front, and they can score in different ways. We need to be organized, work hard and defend very well because they have the ability to create chances out of… nothing.
Supra are a little different from the last time we played them. They’re a bit more conservative, in a way, but they’re more organized and pragmatic. That’s why they’ve gotten results so quickly. They have so much talent that, if they’re confident, they can score goals. They’re a team you have to defend well against and take your chances against.
It’s not easy [for Supra] to play their third match in a week, but at the same time, after two weeks without a game, it can be difficult for us to find our rhythm at the beginning. We need to be ready from the start, fight our way through the first 15 minutes and weather the storm. Martin Nash Vancouver FC head coach
There’s a lot of excitement around the team and the club. The last time we were fighting for a playoff spot at the end of the season was in 2024, and it didn’t go very well. But yes, you can feel that this is our year to make it. It’s a goal for the club and for the team. Everyone is excited. Everyone is focused. Mateo Campagna (Vancouver FC defender)
