Cavalry FC advances to Canadian Championship Semi-Final with 2:1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps

Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League punched their ticket to the Canadian Championship semi-finals with a 2:1 win over Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps on 24 July at BC Place in Vancouver. The two sides had previously battled to a 0:0 draw in the first leg on 10 July at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Vancouver entered the competition in the 3rd round while Cavalry advanced with a 3:2 victory over Forge FC in June and a decisive 4:1 aggregate victory over Pacific FC in May. The CPL side will now face Montreal Impact in the Semi-Final, with the opening leg taking place on 7 August.

In the 7’, Cavalry captain Nik Ledgerwood put in a brilliant long ball in behind the Vancouver defence. Jordan Brown was the first to the ball, getting there ahead of two Whitecap defenders and he hammered it into the top corner to give the CPL side the early lead and a crucial away goal.

Vancouver’s Erik Godoy had an opportunity to tie the match in the 11’, when Ali Adnan’s corner found him wide open in the 6-yard box but he put the ball over the net. In the 30’, Nico Pasquotti’s ball into the box found the head of Sergio Camargo but the Cavalry striker’s header sailed over the crossbar.

In the second half, the Whitecaps began to control more and more of the possession, while Cavalry seemed content to sit back and absorb the pressure with the 0:1 lead. The pressure from Vancouver paid off in the 67’ minute, with Theo Bair’s blocked shot attempt falling at the feet of Inbeom Hwang whose shot took a deflection off of Cavalry defender and into the back of the net.

Just five minutes later, Zator headed in the in-swinging corner from Jose Escalante to put the visitors back in the lead (72’).

Cavalry keeper Marco Carducci almost gifted Yordy Reyna a clear chance in the 76’, as the attacker dispossessed the keeper following a back-pass, but Cavalry just avoided giving up the equalizer. Vancouver had one final chance in the stoppage time, but Mason Trafford just got his head on the ball ahead of the attacking Whitecaps player, putting the ball over the goal to safety.

Vancouver’s Starting XI featured Canadian keeper Maxime Crepeau behind the backline of Erik Godoy, Ali Adnan, Jacob Nerwinski, and Canadian Doneil Henry, who captained the side. The midfield was formed by Inbeom Hwang, Felipe Martins, Andy Rose. Alhassane Bangoura, Yordy Reyna and Canadian Theo Bair rounded out the attack for the away side.

Whitecaps coach Marc dos Santos made an early substitution, bringing on Lucas Venuto for Bangoura in the 27’. Joaquin Ardaiz replaced Rose and Scott Sutter entered the match in the place of Nerwinski.

Cavalry FC’s starting XI featured Jose Escalante, Jordan Brown and Canadian Sergio Camargo up front. Julian Büscher, Nathan Mavila, and Canadians Nico Pasquotti and captain Nik Ledgerwood combined to form the midfield. The defensive line was backstopped by Canadian goalkeeper Marco Carducci and defenders Jonathan Wheeldon and Canadians Dominick Zator and Mason Trafford.

Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. brought on Canadian Mauro Eustaquio for Pasquotti in the 73’ minute. Büscher was replaced by Canadian Elijah Adekugbe and Oliver Minatel came on for Camargo.