‘Legacy To Play For’: 2024 CPL Final Preview

This Saturday afternoon will see the pastures of Spruce Meadows come alive with the sounds of drums, chants, and a chorus of oohs and aahs from what will be a sellout crowd at ATCO Field.

The 2024 CPL Final is poised to culminate the league’s sixth season, with Calgary’s own Cavalry FC hosting bitter league rivals Forge FC. They’ve met in the finals twice before, with the Hamiltonian side claiming victory on both occasions.

Forge enter the match having finished as the regular season champions before losing to Cavalry in the first-versus-second seed matchup. That meant Bobby Smyrniotis’ team had to beat Atletico Ottawa to punch their ticket to Calgary, with Cavalry having won hosting rights by virtue of their earlier victory. Now, however, it’s for all the marbles on the league’s biggest stage.

A chilly Alberta wind is expected to be blowing above the natural grass pitch of ATCO Field, with both sides hoping to play their best brand of football as fall weather seeps in. Cavalry are going for their first-ever playoff championship, whilst Forge are seeking to etch in number five.

Cavalry are backed by the league’s reigning defender of the year, Daan Klomp, who has proven as dangerous in offensive situations as he’s been in consistent at the back. The Dutchman has tallied six goals for Cavalry this season whilst limiting the shots team captain Marco Carducci has had to face.

Klomp played every minute in last year’s final, with hoisting the North Star Cup just about the only thing he hasn’t done in Cavalry red.

“It’s a legacy to play for,” Klomp told CBC. “It’s the one that’s missing, the playoff title. That’s the one we haven’t won yet.”

If Cavalry are to push themselves across the finish line, they’ll be banking on a standout day from German forward Tobias Warschewski. He’s tallied fourteen goals for the hosts this year, and whether Forge’s Alessandro Hojabrpour can help the hammer’s backline stem the German’s creative eye will go a long way for their trophy defense.

“One more game to play,” said Warschewski at this week’s CPL award ceremony, where his performances were recognized with the golden boot award.

The return of full-back Daniel Parra will be a huge defensive boost for the visitors, with the CF Monterrey loanee having been a key part of Bobby’s first team selection all season long prior to his suspension just as playoffs began.

Ahead of Hojabrpour in midfield is 34-year-old Forge captain Kyle Bekker, who’s proven more than capable of setting the rhythm for the side in midfield – particularly with the league’s player of the year winner Tristan Borges and the fast-feet of Beni Badibanga flanking him on either side. With the likes of dual-footed Ali Musse and the creative Diego Gutierrez going the other way, the midfield battle will be a key focal point for the knockout match.

There’s been absolute parity between the powerhouses this year, with Cavalry and Forge splitting the results with two wins, two losses, and one draw apiece. It’s fate that has determined the club to tip their hand on to a winning record will do so on the stage that matters most.

With colder conditions seeping in, who can put out their best brand of football on the big day will soon be determined.

Fans can watch the 2024 CPL Final on CBC Sports from coast-to-coast, with OneSoccer, fuboTV, and Telus Optik also carrying the match.

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Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques