2024 CPL Regular Season — Match #67**
** Cavalry FC vs. Halifax Wanderers FC
** August 10, 2024 at 2 p.m. MT/5 p.m. AT
** ATCO Field in Calgary, Alberta
** Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980** // Tickets available here
In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.
Matchweek 18 in the Canadian Premier League kicks off at ATCO Field on Saturday afternoon, as Cavalry FC host Halifax Wanderers FC. Both of these sides are coming off victories last time out. Cavalry picked up another dramatic late victory in Ottawa, with Ali Musse coming off the bench for his first appearance back from a long injury layoff to score a pair of goals — including the first goal of the match, and then an 89th-minute winner from outside the box shortly after the hosts equalized. Halifax, meanwhile, won a five-goal thriller at home on Monday afternoon against Vancouver FC. Miki Cantave got the scoring underway just four minutes in for the visitors, before Tiago Coimbra marked his return from injury with a thumping header to tie the game 16 minutes later. The Wanderers scored twice in quick succession after half time to take a commanding 3-1 lead, which would be enough to seal all three points despite Alejandro Diaz’s stoppage time goal for the Eagles.
These two sides met just over a month ago, on Canada Day at Wanderers Grounds. It was Halifax coming away with three points in that one, thanks to a goal four minutes after halftime from Ryan Telfer. Saturday’s contest is the first visit for the Wanderers to ATCO Field this season. Telfer is one of several players nearing a return from injury for the Wanderers, according to head coach Patrice Gheisar, as are Clement Bayiha and Kareem Sow. Cale Loughrey missed the last match with an illness but has travelled to Calgary and is available for selection. As for the Cavs, Charlie Trafford will miss out again and is a week or two away, and Sergio Camargo’s availability is being assessed ahead of the match. Eryk Kobza is back and available for selection, and Ali Musse may be able to start after scoring twice off the bench in his return from injury last week, but is not ready yet to play the full 90 minutes. This match could prove to be an important one in the playoff race, with fourth-place Cavalry looking to close in on the teams at the top of the table and Halifax trying to move closer to the playoff spots from eighth place in an incredibly tight race. First and eighth place are separated by just 13 points heading into this weekend, and this opening match is an opportunity for the teams to put some pressure on the others for the rest of the weekend.
This match will be a special one for several reasons off the pitch as well. Cavalry FC has offered complimentary tickets to those who have been displaced because of the devastating wildfires in the town of Jasper, Alberta, to give them a sense of community in challenging times and a day out for a bit of reprieve from the tough situation they are in. It will also be the team’s Marvel Super Hero Day match, which all eight CPL clubs are doing this season. The Cavs will be wearing a special kit to mark the occasion, which will be auctioned off after the match with proceeds going to Umoja Community Mosaic (Soccer Without Boundaries. Members of the military and first responders will also be honoured at the match as part of the club’s appreciation day for those members of the community. Tommy Wheeldon Jr might not be the teleporting Viking superhero he said he wanted to be in his pre-match press conference, but he will be hoping that his side put up a super performance in this important match.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
-
Musse magic returns to ATCO Field: Ali Musse made his long-awaited return to the pitch from injury last week for Cavalry FC, appearing in a CPL match for the first time since May 3. A few minutes after coming off the bench at TD Place, Musse scored the opening goal of the match, and after Atlético Ottawa equalized late he scored again with brilliant shot from the edge of the box. He will make his return to ATCO Field on Saturday, looking to help the Cavs pick up an important victory, and build on his Player of the Week-winning performance last time out. He is not ready to play 90 minutes, but could potentially start the match according to Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
-
Where does Rea fit best in Halifax?: Sean Rea lit up the Canadian Premier League with Valour FC in 2021 and 2022, playing primarily out wide, but in his Halifax Wanderers debut on Monday he played as a false nine, operating in a somewhat free role to try and create opportunities for his teammates as well as himself. Whether or not that position is one the Wanderers keep him in long-term remains to be seen, as head coach Patrice Gheisar admitted in his pregame press conference on Friday that the team is still figuring out where he best fits into their system. One thing is certain: they will find a place for him, and he will very likely be a week-in and week-out starter for this team in a crucial stretch of the season, including potentially on Saturday.
-
Both teams look to set the tone for important weekend in the table: Saturday’s match could have big playoff implications, as Cavalry and Halifax chase the teams above them. Cavalry enter this match five points back of league leaders Atlético Ottawa at the top of the table, four off second-place York United and just one back of third-place Forge FC. Ottawa and Forge play later on Saturday, and one will drop points as they play against each other at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Halifax are four points back of Vancouver FC, who currently occupy the final playoff spot, as well as sixth-place Pacific FC. Seventh-place Valour are just one point ahead of the Wanderers, and also play on Sunday, against York. A lot could change in the CPL table this week, and by playing in the first match of the weekend, Cavalry and Halifax have a chance to set the tone and move up from their respective positions — at least temporarily.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Klomp, Field, Kamdem; Shome, Gutierrez, Henry; Musse, Shaw, Wähling
Halifax Wanderers FC: Fillion; Fernandez, Nimick, Loughrey, Timoteo; Callegari, Rampersad; Rea, Probo, Ferrin; Coimbra
ALL-TIME SERIES
Cavalry FC wins: 10 || Halifax Wanderers FC wins: 3 || Draws: 7
Last meeting:
July 1, 2024 — Halifax Wanderers FC 1-0 Cavalry FC
KEY QUOTES
“We expect a good game, they beat us last time at their place because of the hellish travel that we had and they capitalized on the error we gave, and they didn’t give up much. We’re expecting them to come in and give us a really good match.” — Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr “Things are getting a bit more smooth for them. They’ve got guys back from injury and they’re starting to also feel confident. I think they’re the team that we played a few weeks ago, just a bit more confident, and so are we, so looking forward to the match.” — Halifax Wanderers FC head coach Patrice Gheisar