Petrasso’s Return Breathes New Life into Valour FC

It was a long and treacherous road for Rob Gale’s Valour FC throughout June and July, when key player Michael Petrasso missed out on 7 consecutive league matches through injury. In those 7 matches, Valour picked up a measly 2 points, plummeting to the bottom of the Spring season table, and giving them a less-than-impressive start to the Fall season as well.

It became clear in the first few weeks of the season that Petrasso is Valour’s ‘X-Factor’. He assisted the clubs first ever goal, scored their first ever goal at home, assisted the only goal in a win against Edmonton, and caused problems for the opposition every time he stepped onto the pitch.

You would expect nothing less from a Canadian international, though.

The former Queen’s Park Rangers and Toronto FC youth product was by far the biggest signing made by Valour ahead of their inaugural Canadian Premier League season, and he became one of just a handful of players league-wide who had represented Canada at senior international level. Throughout his career, Petrasso has made a name for himself as a “chameleon”-type player, who is able to fill in at multiple positions across the pitch whenever required.

This trend has continued with Valour, as Petrasso has been used as a right-back, left-winger, right-winger, attacking midfielder, and a centre-forward in a front 2, throughout his minimal appearances for the team. Last season with Montreal Impact in the MLS, Petrasso was used solely as a right-back. His desire to play in more attacking roles led him to the CPL, to work with his former Canada U20 manager, Rob Gale.

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