LONDON, Ont. – Reza Nafar's second half goal led the Western Mustangs to a 1-0 win over the York Lions on Friday evening, in the regular season opener for both teams at Mustangs Field.
 
"Well, we've been working on our defensive shape all week as a starting point and the guys played great," said Mustangs head coach Rock Basacco. "York is a good team and it's hard to keep them off the scoreboard, but we did well."

Friday's win not only started the Mustangs 2017 campaign off with a victory, but it marked the team's first win over the Lions since a 1-0 victory on September 8, 2010.
 
York controlled a majority of the play in the first half, with the Lions outshooting Western 5-2. Their best chance to score in the opening half came in the 34th minute, with Dylan Carreiro sending the ball towards the top corner off of a free kick from just outside the box, however Mustangs goalkeeper Kody Thomson turned it aside with an impressive save.
 
After York held the advantage in the first half things were more even in the second, something that coach Basacco partly attributed to the Mustangs playing a better possession game.
 
"We ended up bringing Reza in, bringing Connor Wilson in, and I think that helped change the flow a little bit in terms of us having a bit more possession, more in an attacking direction. They certainly settled things down for us, they played together all summer so they know each other and they combined on that goal, it was a beautiful shot by Reza."
 
Nafar's goal came in the 62nd minute, after taking a pass from Wilson he blasted a shot past the York keeper to put the Mustangs on the board.
 
"I saw that there was space…Connor Wilson played a really good ball and I was lucky enough to get my name on the scoresheet," said Nafar on his goal.
 
Despite both teams having solid scoring chances during the remainder of the half, Nafar's goal would prove to be the only one of the game and Western walked away with a 1-0 victory to start the season.
 
"For me the first game of the season is always very important, and today we played against one of the best teams, in my opinion. To get the win against them it's amazing. It gives us confidence, so tomorrow we just rest, we think about the next game," said Nafar following the win.
 
With their season opener now in the books, the Mustangs will turn their attention to the Guelph Gryphons, who make their way to London this Sunday with game time set for 3:15 p.m.
 
"They're third in the nation from last year's U SPORTS Championship, they're going to be a strong team as well," said Basacco. "They're going to be strong and intense, so we'll just have to try and match them and see if we can get a second result."