Vancouver Rise FC interim head coach Iain Derbyshire does not want you to call their 4-0 win over Ottawa Rapid FC a ‘new manager bounce’; for him, it’s the minimum.
“It has to be the standard,” Derbyshire said after the match. “We stepped up, and we were in control in key moments and big saves from the goalkeeper and last-ditch tackles. This is the bare minimum to play football at this level. This is our standard now.”
The Rise looked positive throughout the first half hour. In particular, the midfield pairing of Josie Longhurst and Anna Bout were effective in interrupting the Rapid’s desire to force quick transitions.
Audrey Francois’s first goal of the season in the 31st minute gave the Rise the first-half lead. Sura Yekka carried the ball up the right side of the pitch and crossed deep into the 18-yard box.
The initial cross was picked off, but was retrieved by Yekka for a second attempt. This time, Francois was in position for the one-touch volley at the edge of the six-yard box.
The Rise had the opportunity to double their lead just before the half. Latifah Abdu drove into the box and delivered a low, hard shot, but Melissa Dagenais parried it away.
Mia Pante pounced on the rebound but put it over the bar, leaving the score at 1-0 heading into the half-time break.
Jessica De Filippo added to her tally with a finely taken redirect in the 54th minute. Bout’s ball into the box from the left found the striker, who played a simple side-foot deflection to the ball to double the lead.
But the Rise were not finished, not by a long shot.
Abdu scored her fourth goal of the year in the 58th minute. The attacker drove into the box and powered a low, hard shot past Dagenais.
Two minutes later, Longhurst added a fourth goal for the Rise. Standing at the edge of the 18-yard box, she picked up the loose ball and shot it through traffic, benefiting from a deflection that took the ball past the Rapid’s keeper.
The Rise controlled the remaining half hour of the match, limiting Ottawa’s chances going forward, for the eventual 4-0 win, an emphatic result after a tumultuous week.
Derbyshire happy with first Rise win as head coach
The Rise controlled much of the match against the Rapid, owing to a structured midfield, a strong goalkeeper performance from Jessica Wulf and goal production from all over the pitch.
“I thought it was a more connected team performance,” Derbyshire said. “It’s something we spoke about all week, that we have great individual players, but we need to really come together as a group and organize in possession or out of possession, be connected and feel the love and the passion of the game.”
Player pairings of Bout and Longhurst in midfield, as well as Tori Tumeth and Kaela Hansen in the back line, also emphasized this connectivity.
Up next
Montréal Roses FC come to Vancouver on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
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