2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #57**
** Cavalry FC vs. Atlético Ottawa**
** July 12, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. ET **
** **ATCO Field in Calgary, Alberta
** Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here
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After both winning on the weekend, Cavalry FC and Atlético Ottawa will square off at ATCO Field on Wednesday night, both looking for what would be an important three points. Cavalry defeated the league leaders Pacific FC in a statement victory on Vancouver Island, beating the Tridents 2-1 thanks to a pair of first half goals on Saturday. Eryk Kobza and Fraser Aird scored eight minutes apart, and both were crucial to their team’s defensive effort as they held off Pacific late. Easton Ongaro scored in the 72nd minute, but Manny Aparicio missed a penalty and the visitors were able to prevent their opponents from finding an equaliser. Ottawa, meanwhile, beat Valour FC 2-0 in the nation’s capital on Sunday. Ollie Bassett continued his strong season, converting a penalty for his sixth goal of the CPL season, giving his side a 1-0 lead going into halftime. Both sides were struggling to finish their chances, keeping it at 0-0 going into the latter stages of the match, before Zach Verhoven scored in stoppage time to double Ottawa’s lead for a 2-0 victory. This will be the tenth meeting all-time between the Cavs and Ottleti. Carlos Gonzalez’s side has historically had the upper hand, winning six of the nine previous meetings, including three of the four meetings a year ago — and both at ATCO Field. The past is the past, however, with Cavalry winning the only previous match between the two sides here in 2023 — back on May 21. Sergio Camargo and Daan Klomp found the back of the net 22 minutes into each half as the home side at ATCO Field came away with a 2-0 win. Wednesday’s match could have some implications on the playoff positioning as both teams reach the halfway point of their regular seasons. Following last weekend’s matches, Cavalry entered midweek in third place in the table, one point back of second place Forge FC with two games in hand, and four points back of league leaders Pacific. Ottawa moved off the bottom of the table with their win over Valour, climbing up to sixth place entering the CPL’s midweek matches, one point back of the Halifax Wanderers (who play against Pacific on Tuesday night) for the fifth and final playoff spot. Both sides will have some returnees in this match, with Ottawa centre-back Diego Espejo and Cavalry midfielder Charlie Trafford both returning from one-game suspensions for yellow card accumulation. Cavalry may also give a debut to young midfielder Maël Henry, who is yet to play for his new side after joining from Vancouver FC a few weeks ago.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
- Both teams reach halfway point of 2023 regular season: Wednesday’s match is not only coming in the middle of the week, but in the middle of the 2023 Canadian Premier League season, with the match at ATCO Field the 14th out of 28 for both sides. Both entering the season with very high expectations — the desire to win either the regular season title, the North Star Shield, or both — but things haven’t always gone to plan for these sides. Both started the season slowly but are now starting to round into form, with Cavalry on a three-game win streak that sees them up in third place, one point back of second-place Forge FC, while Ottawa are chasing the Halifax Wanderers for the fifth and final playoff spot at this midway point of the season, entering this match in sixth. Wednesday’s match will be a measuring stick for both teams, and a chance for make a statement as they look to solidify places in the playoff positions in the coming weeks and months. * Eryk Kobza is a standout player, but what’s his best position?: One of the most exciting things to come out of Calgary this season is the emergence of Eryk Kobza. The 21-year-old Canadian was drafted by Cavalry out of University of Calgary this year and has become a key player in his first CPL campaign. Able to play as a centre-back or at the base of the team’s midfield, Kobza’s versatility has seen him get regular playing time over the past several weeks, and he has taken advantage of his opportunities. His best position remains unclear but with his ability to play wherever he is asked to, Cavalry head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. thinks it’s a good problem to have. “Centre-forward, apparently,” Wheeldon Jr. joked when asked about Kobza’s best position, referencing his goal on the weekend against Pacific FC. “I think the modern day player has to be tactically versatile because there is no one formation now anymore. You have an idea of your positioning in possession, and you have a different role and responsibility out of possession. I think he’s one of those modern players that’s been very well brought up, he’s a very intelligent guy, he’s got great energy and legs, and an incredible spirit. I don’t know what his best position is, he’s just a very good player.” * Ollie Bassett adding more consistency to MVP-calibre skillset: It’s no secret that Atlético Ottawa midfielder Ollie Bassett is one of the best players in the Canadian Premier League. The 25-year-old is the league’s reigning Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, but his head coach Carlos Gonzalez (who is the reigning Manager of the Year) believes that his star player has actually taken another step forward in 2023. “I think his level is more consistent,” Gonzalez said on Tuesday. “Last season he had a little bit more of up and downs, and I feel that the level that he’s showing this year, we are seeing a more mature version of Ollie — more mature version on the field and offensively understanding better his role, doing it in more repeated times, and also defensively. I think the defensive part is a thing that he is working [on] a lot, also to give a good performance and help the team. At the end of the day, in the football we have nowadays we can’t only think in the attacking phase, we have to be good players in both phases, and this is going to be the key for success in the future.” Bassett told CanPL.ca in January that he is aiming to be more consistent, and score double-digit goals, which he is on pace to do with seven just before the halfway point of the season. Adding more defensive responsibilities as well and still dictating a lot of how Ottawa plays, Bassett has to be considered one of the leaning candidates again for the end-of-season awards.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Klomp, Kobza, Kamdem; Daley, Trafford; Smith-Doyle, Musse, Ntignee; Bevan
Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Acosta, Ouimette, Espejo, Sacko; Bassett, Zapater, Verhoeven; Salter, del Campo, Verhoven
ALL-TIME SERIES
Cavalry FC wins: 2 || Atlético Ottawa wins: 6 || Draws: 1
Previous match:
May 21, 2023 — Cavalry FC 2-0 Atlético Ottawa
KEY QUOTES
“We know with Ottawa, they are a team that are very well coached and very disciplined. They’re going to probably come here and try and suck the life out of the game, there’s going to be tired minds and bodies.” — Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “Last season we did a couple of good games here, but the reality is that now we’re in a new season, and the last flavour we had in Calgary wasn’t a good flavour — we didn’t do a good match and I think they were better than us in every single area of the field. What we have to do is improve that performance, I think that the team is growing so much in the last few weeks and we are seeing that we are having more opportunities to face any team and have the capabilities to win them… They are in a good stride, a good level, but I’m sure we are going to do a good game and we are going to be in position to win.” — Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos Gonzalez