Robert’s Rant: Going to a game was like seeing an 8th Wonder

By ROBERT BELARDI

opinion

The moment I arrived at York Lions Stadium Friday night, I saw what I have not seen in two years. 

There were fans, draped in York United kits and scarves. From the parking lot, I heard the P.A. announcer in the stadium going over new sales and promotions to the supporters. 

As I approached Gate 2B, I picked up my press pass for the rest of the Canadian Premier League season. I was stoked as I called for the elevator to take me to the fourth floor. 

As the doors opened, I saw the field from the glass window. I saw the players standing for the national anthem. I saw, 1,710 fans standing all together as one. 

As I sat down inside the press box, it had felt surreal. As if it was my first time coming to a game as a reporter. Goosebumps trickled down all over my body in excitement. 

I heard the songs being sung from the Forge FC away supporters. I heard the chants from the York United supporters. What better way to kick off the first game with fans than with an effusive bunch in the stands. 

But, of course, I am reporting on York United and the club didn't get off to a hot start. As a matter of fact, it was Forge FC, just four minutes in who got on the board. A neat ball into the box was chested down Molham Babouli and the forward tucked the ball into the net to make it 1-0. 

York hadn't found their footing in the first half. There were nerves for sure in more ways than one. In the 41st minute, things didn't get any better as York defender Dominick Zator had been awarded a red card for his challenge against 22-year-old winger Tristan Borges. 

Everyone in the press box, including myself questioned the call. Borges had embellished it and because Zator was the last-man back it almost left the official with no other choice. 

In the second half, York turned on the jets with 10-men. Max Ferrari had shifted to right-back and Michael Petrasso had come on returning from his hamstring problem. He almost put one in the net in the 88-minute. 

The game finished 1-0. 

“I think for the first fifteen-twenty minutes of the game the occasion got the better of us. We made the simple things very difficult. We were making passes that we shouldn't have passed. Played everything straight,” head coach Jimmy Brennan said in the post-match press conference. 

“In the second half, I can't fault the team's effort. We ended up putting two up top. We played a 4-3-2. We didn't want to bunker in. I thought we had a chance here getting forward. The guys adapted to the situation it was unfortunate we couldn't nick one in at the end.” 

Brennan alluded to the fact that the fans in the stands were nice and he said you could feel how excited the players were to be back and in front of supporters once again. Hearing voices in the stands was a lot better than the silence of the bubble and in Winnipeg. 

“I guess the crowd got to us. Nothing crazy, but we were just slow off the bat. I think maybe that has to do with playing all those games in 25 days in Winnipeg. But we built into the game and we competed the whole 90,” said York midfielder Max Ferrari after the game. 

“We're very close on and off the field. We all work for each other. We want the same thing we have the same goals. We push each other and for 90 minutes we pushed each other.” 

For York United, Terique Mohammed and Lowell Wright came off injured throughout the match. Wright's was a simple cramp but Mohammed seemed to of tweaked his knee. 

York took on Forge at Tim Hortons Field this past Wednesday. The boys will be on the road for three straight games before returning home to take on Masters Futbol in the Canadian Championship August 21.