York United are off to a winning start to the 2025 Canadian Premier League season, as they defeated Vancouver FC 2-0 at Willoughby Community Park on Sunday, capping off the CPL’s opening weekend slate with an important road victory.

Led by a brace from substitute Julian Altobelli, it was nearly a perfect road performance from York, too, which allowed them to grab a crucial early win.

York had two glorious chances to open the score in quick succession in the 11th minute, as Steffen Yeates was denied in-tight by Callum Irving on a breakaway, before Massimo Ferrin had his rebound blocked by a flying kick save from Irving right after.

Then, they had another glorious opportunity in the 17th minute, as Adonijah Reid tried to curl a trivela shot in the top right-corner, but Irving stepped up with another incredible stop to keep the game tied.

Having absorbed that early wave of York pressure, Vancouver had a great chance of their own in the 29th minute. There, Elage Bah snuck behind the York backline, latching onto the end of a dangerous long ball, but his cutback attempt to Alejandro Díaz was palmed away by York’s goalkeeper, Ivan Pavela.

After a quiet end to the half, things started to pick up again in the second half. Following a couple of half-chances, Vancouver almost opened the scoring in the 61st minute, as Díaz fired a cannon of a shot from distance, but Pavela narrowly managed to palm his shot over the crossbar. Then, on the subsequent corner, David Norman Jr. had a dangerous header from close range, but Pavela was also able to get his body in front of that shot.

At the other end, however, York finally opened the scoring soon after. After having been denied by Irving on their previous eight shots on target, the ninth would finally find the goal, as Julian Altobelli, who had just come onto the field, scooped up a loose ball in the box and sent it into the roof of the net for his first CPL goal.

Having opened that account, Altobelli was eager to add to it, too, which he then did in the 84th minute. After a great dribble, he found the space to fire a shot from a tight angle, and he made the most of it, curling it into the top corner to make it 2-0.

To Vancouver’s credit, they nearly made the game interesting late, as Henri Godbout fired a dangerous shot from the edge of the box, but just curled his shot past the post.

From there, however, York did well to hold on to their two-goal lead the rest of the way, allowing them to get off to a winning start to the season.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke, Campagna (Gee 60′), Norman Jr, Enyou; Tahid (Godbout 60′), Fry, Essoussi, Bah (Podgorni 90′); Díaz, Campbell (Fotsing 71′)

York United FC: Pavela; Ferrari, Singh, Higgins, Léon, Ferrazzo (Lopez 90′); Adekugbe, Yeates; Ferrin (Kibato 78′), Reid (Altobelli 65′), Bitar (Jimoh 65′)

Goals

66′ — Julian Altobelli (York United FC)

84′ — Julian Altobelli (York United FC)

Discipline

21′ — Yellow: Massimo Ferrin (York United FC)

54′ — Yellow: Vasco Fry (Vancouver FC)

70′ — Yellow: Luke Singh (York United FC)

75′ — Yellow: Shola Jimoh (York United FC)

© 2025 York United FC