Vancouver FC vs. FC Supra du Québec
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Saturday's matchup between Vancouver FC and FC Supra is a clash of teams in desperate need of a bounce-back.
FC Supra, who currently remain well-positioned in the playoff race, has nonetheless lost three of its last four matches. Granted, those three defeats came at the hands of Forge FC, Cavalry, and Atlético Ottawa — the last three CPL champions.
There was certainly tough opposition, and the performances themselves showed promise, with the possible exception of the match against Cavalry. That being said, from a points perspective, FC Supra needs to get back on track.
With 6 points from 5 matches, the podium already seems a long way off for Nick Razzaghi’s men. Forge FC sits at 16 points, Cavalry has 14, and Atlético Ottawa has 11. It would therefore be wise not to drift too far from the fourth and final playoff qualification spot — even if the season is still long and Supra has a game in hand compared to its rivals.
The match against Vancouver FC could be a fantastic opportunity to leave a fellow playoff challenger behind. With 4 points from 6 matches, Vancouver FC doesn't have much room for error either. A victory for the British Columbia side would allow them to leapfrog today's opponents in the standings and catch up with the pack. Conversely, a victory for Supra would give the Montrealers a 5-point cushion over the team led by Martin Nash.
Struggles in Front of Goal
For both Supra and Vancouver FC, the objective must be to convert their chances.
Vancouver FC has only scored 4 goals since the start of the season, which is the worst record in the league in this category. Worse yet, 3 of those 4 goals were scored against Pacific FC, a team already completely adrift. Vancouver FC has only found the back of the net once in the other 5 league matches they have played.
For FC Supra, things aren't much better: they have only scored twice in their last four matches. Those were the two goals scored in their victory against the Halifax Wanderers. Against Cavalry, Forge FC, and Atlético Ottawa, their side of the scoreboard remained at zero.
However, this difficulty in scoring shouldn't overshadow the offensive potential of both teams.
Mohammed Amissi (2.66), Terran Campbell (2.35), and Nicolas Mezquida (1.59) occupy the 1st, 3rd, and 5th spots league-wide in terms of "expected goals." Vancouver is also the team with the most shot attempts in the entire league. The chances are definitely there; they just need to be finished.
Similarly, Supra can count on the return of Loïc Kwemi, who hasn't started a match in a month. Sean Rea, the player of the month for April, seems less flamboyant in May, but he remains a crucial player for his team's success in every way: he has delivered 97 passes into the final third since the start of the season—the highest figure in the league.
There is plenty of potential for an entertaining spectacle in this encounter.
News & Notes
- The FC Supra squad is at full strength, apart from the long-term injuries, including Ismael Yeo. Alessandro Biello remains suspended.
- This marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and both teams are the two newest additions to the league.
- Vancouver FC has yet to win or score a goal on home turf in the CPL.
Projected Starting XIs:
FC Supra du Québec: Milli; Auguste, Chrétien, Ferdinand, Abzi; Biello, Mlah; Bayiha, Réa, Choinière, Kwemi
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Field, Proctor; Polisi, Ssewankambo; Bah, Amissi, Mezquida; Campbell