- Home
- Canadian Premier League
- CPL Matchweek 15 Recap – The Divide
Cavalry FC Adam Pearlman
CPL Matchweek 15 Recap – The Divide
By If the long weekend showed us anything, it’s that even in a league of relative parity you can have some clubs soaring to the highest of highs, while others are so deep they may as well call the Marianas Trench home.
Matchweek 15 of the Canadian Premier League actually saw five matches, producing some some truly amazing moments through the likes of Cavalry’s Joseph Holliday or the continual rise of Vancouver FC, while at the other end we have Pacific now on the cusp of 365 winless days and the now-familiar hemorrhaging of goals from Inter Toronto.
Subscribe To Patreon – It’s Cooler Than Being Served Gambling Ads
Without further ado, let’s catch you up on all of the action:
Cavalry FC 2 – 1 FC Supra du Quebec
Before the long weekend arrived, we had a midweek clash that saw some late game highlighted by a matchwinning-save from Joseph Holliday.
Tommy Wheeldon Jr’s side took just three minutes to strike first blood as Nathaniel Edwards Edwards drove up the pitch on the left, beat his man, and blasted a shot into the far corner that Joakim Milli could only watch ruffle the net:
FC Supra nearly bagged an equalizer in the first half as the ever-creative Sean Rea broke through on the other end, firing a sharp shot that Joseph Holliday could only watch sail beyond him, though it struck the post rather than going in.
Fast-footed full-back Diyaedine Abzi looked to have earned a penalty for FC Supra, but upon FVS review he was deemed to have dived for it and was awkwardly awarded a yellow card for the theatrics – a smart review call from Tommy Wheeldon Jr. to keep his side’s lead intact:
The Quebecois visitors would secure an equalizer ten minutes into the second half, however, though it took a bit of luck. A corner kick saw Rea attempt a volley, and it took a hefty deflection off the chest of Keesan Ferdinand to direct into the net in a stroke of fortune for the visitors.
Rea would continue to be an absolute engine for FC Supra, forcing Holliday to show off his saving capabilities with ten minutes to go. Then on the other end, Cavalry would send ATCO Field into raptures as a corner kick saw Amer Didic fly through the air to head the ball into the net for a 93rd minute winner:
Yet, the action still wasn’t over: FC Supra broke through with a last-gasp attack that got the better of the Cavalry backline as an aerial ball found Matisse Chretien just steps away from the net, and his header was well-placed to the far corner – but Joseph Holliday was up to the occasion to rescue his side from the prospect of a late concession, effectively securing all three points for the hosts while breaking some Quebecois hearts in the process.
Pacific FC 1 -2 FC Supra Du Quebec
This loss now brings Pacific just one match away from a full calendar year without a win, and it’s one that will frustrate Terry Dunfield as he watched his new side fumble an early lead to finish with nine men and rack up yet another painful loss.
Pacific started strong for Dunfield’s home coaching debut, with Marco Bustos sending in the go-ahead goal after just twenty minutes of play:
The Tridents tested out a back three and looked to be connecting well as the game progressed, but things began to unravel just before half-time. When captain Josh Heard found himself beaten in the his own box by Diyaeddine Abzi, he fouled the full-back. A video review was triggered by Dunfield, but actually made things worse for Pacific as the referee decided Heard’s challenge was worthy of a straight red card: for the second time this season, the captain was giving his marching orders.
Up stepped Loic Kwemi, who had a goal disallowed earlier, but this time dutifully delivered an equalizer for Supra:
Dunfield reverted to a back-four and made his changes in anticipation for a tough second half, and actually looked the stronger side for the opening stanza of the second half. The Tridentsy forced Joakim Milli into a flurry of saves, and Yann Toualy even struck the crossbar.
Yet, Pacific’s lack of discipline would haunt them once more. Marco Bustos began pushing Matisse Chretien as things heated up with just ten minutes to go, sending the veteran for an early shower and reducing Pacific’s already-vulnerable contingent to just nine men on the field.
The disparity in numbers allowed FC Supra du Quebec to overload the Tridents in the game’s dying minutes, with young Omar Elkalkouli sending in a nice cross into the box for Safwane Mlah to head in a winner with five minutes to go. It was a solid late win for FC Supra, but a complete unravelling for Pacific as its veterans failed to do justice for Vancouver Isle.
Vancouver FC 3 – 1 Atletico Ottawa
The Eagles are flying, and right now they look like the true apex predator – certainly, the dinosaur of Ottawa perished in Langley as VFC secured their fourth straight win, jumping over Ottawa into third as they drive towards what could be their first ever playoff finish.
Martin Nash’s side took just even minutes to strike first blood, forcing a turnover with the always-energetic Damiano Pecile delivering a tidy pass to Mohammed Amissi. The Burundian international did well to beat Kalongo, putting enough steam on the shot to best the keeper near-post:
The Eagles would double their advantage just even minutes later after Manny Aparicio brought down Thierno Bah in the box. Up stepped the resurgent Lys Mousset, who picked his spot in the bottom corner for his third goal in just as many games, and fourth of the season overall:
Mousset looked to have bagged brace for himself less than ten minutes later, collecting a pass from Pecile and blasting it at Kalongo. The keeper was up to the save, but spilled a rebound that the veteran striker was quick to put beyond the line. An FVS review would determine there was a foul in the Eagles’ build-up play, however, so the goal was nullified.
That wouldn’t stop Vancouver from procuring a third before the half-time whistle, however, and Damiano Pecile was involved once again. Beating several Ottleti markers, he fired a low-struck shot that Kalongo couldn’t stretch to meet, sending the hosts three-nil up before half-time:
The second half saw Gustavo Leal dip into his bench in a bid to turn the results around, handing a debut to Diego Gutierrez.
It wouldn’t take long for the red-and-white to show why they’re the reigning champions, clawing one back after Callum Irving spilled a rebound. The ball fell to substitute Tim Arnaud, and he made no mistake to fire it home and make things 3-1.
Pecile, who continues to be in fine form, would nearly bag a brace for himself through a freekick later on, with Vancouver holding on to their two-goal cushion to secure all three points against Ottawa and rise up to third in league standings. What a rise it has been as their goalscoring woes of April now seem a distant memory.
Cavalry 5 – 0 Inter Toronto
Cavalry was scoring by committee against Inter Toronto on Sunday, with five different scorers running riot against an Inter Toronto defensive end that just can’t sort itself out of late. The Torontonians have now allowed 25 goals in their last 7 games, 6 of which have ended in losses.
It took under twenty minutes for the Albertan hosts to take the lead through Adam Pearlman, with the TFC loanee bagging his first goal in Cavalry colours after a smart run into the box saw him connect perfectly with Warschewski’s cross in from the flank.
Inter Toronto, who had lost 5-1 to Cavalry at their last meeting, managed to keep things to a single-goal deficit by half-time, but ATCO Field would see the goals flow in the second. Owen Antoniuk doubled the advantage just six minutes in, striking a fine shot to the bottom left corner that Ivan Pavela couldn’t stretch to meet:
Veteran forward Ali Musse has had a pretty quiet season for Cavalry following his missed move abroad, but the Somalia international would capitalize on a defensive collapse from Inter Toronto after the visitors tried to play it out of the back. An errant pass from Pavela allowed for a turnover, with an unmarked Musse collecting the ball for his side’s third of the night:
Tommy Wheeldon Jr’s side piled on the misery with Nathaniel Edwards bagging back-to-back goals at ATCO Field. He evidently liked cutting in for his goal on Tuesday, because he did it again with similar effect against Inter Toronto:
With Inter Toronto unravelling as yet another lopsided scoreline formed, Caniggia Elvia was able to get in on the action, heading home a freekick that was finely curled in by Tobias Warschewski as the German supplies his third assist of the day.
At the final whistle, Inter Toronto had fired just one shot on target against Nathan Ingham, who started his CPL career with the Nine stripes of old. ITO is second-last and only above winless side Pacific FC, with players clearly struggling to connect on the pitch in a meaningful way.
While Cavalry has played one more match than Forge, it was a productive week for the Albertans as they narrow the gap between the top-of-the-table side to just two points. For Inter Toronto, it’s just abject misery at the moment.
Halifax Wanderers 0 – 0 Forge FC
Forge’s winning streak was disrupted by a Halifax Wanderers defense that held firm to deny the Hamiltonians what would have been seven in a row.
While Forge has had the better of Halifax in all three of their prior meetings this year, things certainly looked destined for a stalemate in a relative snoozefest of a first half. The visitors created a few half-chances, but there was little to indicate the action would improve in the second forty-five.
Both sides came out with more gusto as Halifax nearly procured a goa-head goal as a cross from Ryan Telfer inadvertently deflected off of a defender to strike the post, though the hammers were able to clear the danger after that.
Forge had the bulk of chances throughout the match, but the clinical nature the side typically shows did not travel with them to Halifax on Natal Day.
Similarly, Halifax would rue what would have surely been a matchwinner in the 85th minute: a set piece opportunity saw Thomas Meilleur-Giguere rise to thunder a header goalwards, with Dimitry Bertaud doing just enough to keep it out. Molham Babouli tried to clear the ball, but inadvertently sent it to Andre Rampersad right in the middle of the box. The Trinidad and Tobago international connected with the ball, but couldn’t direct it beyond Bertaud.
So, Halifax and Forge get a point apiece out east, something that the sixth-place Wanderers will be much happier about than Forge, who let Cavalry close the gap at the top – though the hammers still have a game in hand.
At the end of the week, we have a tale of highs and lows. Cavalry and Vancouver have enjoyed superb weeks – and not for the first time – while the likes of Inter Toronto and Pacific are looking rough.
This Friday will see an intriguing clash between league leaders Forge and high-flying Vancouver FC, while the following day sees the opposite form derby as Pacific hosts Inter Toronto.
Saturday will also see Ottawa and Halifax, with the day later closing out with a third game as FC Supra du Quebec faces Cavalry for the second time in just as many weeks.
