‘You keep fighting and believing until you get there’

Just when it looked like Valour FC had turned a corner, Winnipeg’s professional soccer club reminded everyone that they are still, well, Valour FC.

After breathing some life into their season with back-to-back victories, Valour was knocked back down to earth courtesy of the top dog in the Canadian Premier League, Forge FC, with a 5-0 loss last Saturday in Hamilton.

It was the largest margin of victory at home in franchise history for Forge — a four-time league champion. They also dismantled Winnipeg 5-0 on June 22 at Princess Auto Stadium.

In Valour’s defence, though, their most recent thumping was their fourth match in 14 days. Plus, there’s zero shame in losing to the powerhouse in orange. Forge has now gone 17 consecutive matches without taking a loss and are an incredible 10-7-0 (wins-draws-losses) for 37 points.

The result dropped Valour to 4-2-11 on the year.

“To lose a game at Forge, against a team that is probably the best version of them that I’ve seen, is not the problem. The problem is you hope to build on some good performances… and we didn’t,” said Valour manager Phillip Dos Santos after Thursday’s training session at Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex.

To make matters worse, key defender Zachary Fernandez is currently on crutches after he left in the first half of the game against Forge with an injury. He’s expected to be out for a while.

“It’s going to be a big loss for us. Zach is obviously another warrior that we have on the team,” said midfielder Raphael Ohin.

“He’s very passionate, and he comes in with a strong mentality and wants to win every game. And I can see when things are not going well, you can see the frustration, right? So, he’s a winner. Losing a player like that is a big blow and at the end of the day, we just have to move on.”

It’s not a spot where they can afford to lose bodies as Valour has struggled to keep the ball out of their own net.

Veteran goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi is currently out with a sprain and has some work to do to return. Then there’s backup goalie Eleias Himaras, who was dealt a three-game suspension by Canada Soccer for leaving the bench and getting involved in a shoving match between Valour and Cavalry in the closing minutes of Winnipeg’s 2-1 win at home on July 29.

Himaras had to sit out the loss at Forge, forcing Valour to sign goalies Callum Weir and Adam Kour on short-term replacement contracts in order to have someone between the pipes. Weir, 21, who was most recently with TSS FC Rovers of League1 BC, got the start last weekend.

Valour is appealing the decision and hope Himaras will be deemed eligible to play Sunday when they host Atlético Ottawa (10-6-1) at 2 p.m.

“Right now, it’s all up in the air. I’m just hoping Eleias will hear good news. If Eleias is in the net, man, we’re happy,” said Ohin.

“But regardless of whatever happens, we just have to go and play and have the same faith in the backup goalkeepers that we signed. We just have to have faith and protect them.”

Valour has surrendered a league-high 41 goals with 19 of those coming in just four matches.

“We haven’t handled individual moments well. I think every goal comes down to something minor,” said defender Gianfranco Facchineri.

“You can nitpick, but I don’t think we’ve been dealing well enough with specific moments and I think we’re well aware of that and we’re doing our best to try and find some level of defensive cohesiveness.”

They’ll need defensive cohesiveness to get back in the win column this weekend as Ottawa is only one point behind Forge in the standings and has surrendered just one goal in their previous four outings.

Valour trails the HFX Wanderers by 10 points with 11 matches left for the fifth and final playoff spot.

“A few weeks ago, we were heading towards being 16 points behind the line, and then you win two matches and it gives you life. You know how emotions are, it can carry a long way,” said Dos Santos.

“So, for us, it’s about sticking to it. Every game is going to be very important. For us to get something out of a team that’s contending for a title right now… and keep the machine going in a positive way, would be important.”

Valour is still searching for their first post-season berth in club history. You don’t have to remind Ohin, as the Winnipegger has been with the team since Day 1 and is two appearances away from having his 100th cap in Valour colours.

“I wouldn’t say I’m tired, it’s just that it’s a fight every year,” said Ohin.

“It’s a process. You keep fighting and believing until you get there. And when you finally cross that line, you can look back and say, ‘Oh, yeah, I did it.’ It’s a good feeling crossing that line and we’re not going to rest until we do.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca