Cavalry FC draws 0:0 with Vancouver Whitecaps in first leg of Qualifying Round 3

Cavalry FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC battled to a 0:0 first leg draw in Qualifying Round 3 of the Canadian Championship on 10 July at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. The MLS side and the top Canadian Premier League side will face off in the return leg on 24 July in Vancouver. Vancouver entered the competition in this round while Cavalry advanced with a3:2 victory over Forge FC in June and a decisive 4:1 aggregate victory over Pacific FC in May. The winner will face either York9 FC or Montreal Impact in the semi-finals in August.

In the 8’ Cavalry’s Nico Pasquotti beat a defender and cut to the goal line before drilling a shot towards the near post, but Vancouver keeper Maxime Crepeau was equal to the challenge and put it out for a corner. The ensuing set piece caused problems for the Whitecaps, eventually rolling through the penalty area where no one from either team was able to get a foot on it. Just before halftime, Vancouver’s Yordy Reyna and Ali Adnan played a lovely give and go but Dean Northover made a great sliding tackle to break up the play.

A dangerous long throw from Pasquotti into the Vancouver box in the 57’ caused problems as it bounced around but none of the Cavalry FC players could get a finishing touch on the ball to give the home side the lead. The Whitecaps countered quickly as Adnan made a blistering run down the side line and passed to Reyna at the top of the box. Reyna was able to get a low, hard shot on target that was saved by keeper Marco Carducci.

Doneil Henry gave the ball away in a dangerous position, but Dominique Malonga’s shot from distance sailed over the Vancouver net (64’). Off of a corner, Dominik Zator’s header went just wide of the goal in the 84’. 

Late in the match (89’), Jose Escalante had Cavalry’s best chance of the match. High pressure on the Vancouver defence forced a turnover and Escalante’s curling shot from just outside the penalty area forced Crepeau to make a fantastic diving save to keep the CPL side from taking the lead.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Adnan’s free kick curls into the Cavalry penalty area but the header goes just wide of Carducci’s post.

Cavalry FC’s starting XIfeatured Jose Escalante along with Dominique Malonga and Canadian Nico Pasquotti up front. Julian Büscher, Elijah Adekugbe and Canadian Sergio Camargo combined to form the midfield. The defensive linewas backstopped by Canadian goalkeeper Marco Carducci and defenders Jonathan Wheeldon and Canadians Dominick Zator, Dean Northover, and captain Mason Trafford. 

Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. brought on Canadian Nikolas Ledgerwood for Büscher in the 60’.  Malonga was replaced by Jordan Brown and Oliver Minatel came on for Camargo.

Vancouver’s Starting XIfeatured Canadian keeper Maxime Crepeau behind the backline of Erik Godoy and Canadians Doneil Henry and Derek Cornelius. The midfield was formed by Canadians Russell Teibert alongside Felipe Martins, Andy Rose, Scott Sutter, and Ali Adnan. Captain Fredy Montero and Yordy Reyna rounded out the attack for the away side. 

Whitecaps coach Marc dos Santos brought on Victor Giro for Teibert in the 65’. Lucas Venuto came on for Reyna and Joaquin Ardaiz replaced Montero.