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Photo Credit: John Jacques
CPL In Review: Matchweek 8 – VFCs Left Vexed
By Four games took place this weekend, but before a single ball was kicked several bombshell news stories surfaced: first was that the York United ownership group had trademarked Inter Toronto FC – suggesting yet another rebrand for YUFC – after which it was revealed that CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan would step down this summer, with CSB then bringing in heavyweight executive James Johnson from Football Australia as its Group CEO.
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Suffice to say, it was quite the prelude to action. The players dutifully brought drama on the pitch, with the pole position in league standings being usurped and a clear divide now showing between the top and bottom halves of the table. Let’s dive in:
Halifax Wanderers 2 – 0 Atletico Ottawa
Atletico Ottawa travelled out east – without MVP candidate David Rodriguez, through suspension – and found things tough to go by without him. While the first half saw both sides trade chances, it was a moment of deja vu for Halifax as the second half saw the club storm to a two-nil lead and capture all three points.
Evidently, Gheisar’s fine-tuning is landing better with his 2025 squad than his sophomore season in 2024.
The first goal came through a set piece that saw defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguere fire the hosts in front, and as Ottleti drooped there heads momentarily they would concede just five minutes later, with Ryan Telfer being fouled in the box and Tiago Coimbra firing home the ensuing penalty.
Pacific FC 0 – 1 Forge FC
From the first whistle almost straight to the last, it seemed like both sides were playing a risk-averse match that looked destined for a draw. Forge’s league-leading defense was performing well, while Pacific weren’t probing with their usual gusto.
The Forge fireworks launched just before the final whistle, with 19-year-old Forge prospect Hoce Massunda stealing all three points for the visitors after finding himself in space out of the box and being brave enough to give it a go.
York United 1 – 0 Vancouver FC
This was always destined to be a deathmatch between two hungry sides: neither club had more than one win to their name coming in, with Julian Altobelli stepping up to make the difference for the hosts. The striker’s sixth goal in eight games brought a first half lead that the Nine Stripes were finally able to keep a firm grip on.
Hard to believe the goalscoring phenom was once rinsed out of the York9 era without an appearance, eh?
Diego Urtiago’s clean sheet was helped by the fact that Vancouver FC didn’t get a single shot on target, though Brazilian midfielder Juan Batista did crack the crossbar. Still, there are a lot of questions for Afshin Ghotbi’s side as the Eagles drop to dead last following a miserable showing in Toronto.
Cavalry 4 – 0 Valour FC
The reigning CPL champions have certainly enjoyed themselves this month, with Cavalry’s fourth straight win seeing them handily dispatch visiting Valour with a cutthroat second half. The opening minutes saw both sides probing, but once Cavalry struck first blood through English centre-back Levi Laing, the stage was set for a dominant second half showcase.
Cavalry surged in the second half to secure back-to-back four-nil home wins, with the first two goals seeing them capitalize from sloppy passes, and the last going coming as a potent counter-attack to firmly put down a Valour FC with just one win in league play and dead last in the standings.
The Halifax Wanderers have taken pole position, though it’s fair to say Atletico Ottawa’s attack will keep the capital city club in firm contention. Cavalry and Forge’s respective wins now split the table into a very clear top and bottom half – or a ‘have, and have not’, if you will.
This Friday will see struggling Vancouver FC prepare for a tough visit from Atletico Ottawa, while an Ontario-based double-header Saturday sees Forge and Cavalry square off at Hamilton Stadium, after which York United and the Halifax Wanderers meet in Quebec City for the league’s On Tour match. Closing out the action on Sunday is Valour’s first of a two-game homestand, with Pacific – another out-of-form team – heading to Winnipeg to kick things off.
Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques
