We return to the Canadian Premier League for week four of the new season. Each week, we’ll discuss the games played the past weekend, the current league table, and the upcoming encounters, giving you a one-stop-shop where you can keep up on events and hear a bit of analysis.
Halifax vs. Valour (1-0)
The Wanderers were coming off a big win, while Valour was eager to get moving up the table.
The first half opened with the Wanderers making forays into the Valour half to test their defences, with long passes to try and create an opportunity. However, as the half went on, Valour asserted themselves more and more with a steady passing game, letting them work their way back up, though chances were harder to come by. Two decent shots put the Wanderers goalkeeper to the test, but neither felt especially dangerous.
The Wanderers spent much of the half playing defensively, with the back line often 4-5 men strong to intercept and dissolve Valour’s attempts to play crosses and set up a dangerous chance.
The second half offered a regrouped Halifax, spending much of the half pushing and holding Valour on the back foot, though Valour’s defensive line held steady. The crucial moment, then, came at 89 minutes for Halifax, as Feitoza Dias dodged his way through the Valour backline, before finding the back of the net.
The game was quite even in terms of possession, shots, and passing accuracy. A closely matched game like this often comes down to just one skilful (or lucky) moment at the right time. As a curiosity, both teams received a yellow card for simulating, after a bit of theatrics from near-miss tackles.
Cavalry vs. Ottawa (1-3)
Cavalry came into this match still chasing their first win of the season, while Ottawa had a very comfortable 9 goals scored across 3 games.
Everything was geared up for a high intensity match, and the first shot from Ottawa came before 3 minutes were on the clock. Cavalry as a team has traditionally had a strong defensive record, conceding the fewest goals of any team in the last season, while Ottawa scored the second most.
The first half played out remarkably even, with Ottawa’s attacks mostly trying to fight through the midfield, but getting tangled or blocked by the sturdy Cavalry backline. Meanwhile attempts by Cavalry to open up the right flank did not pay off. Cavalry notched 8 shots (2 on target) while Ottawa claimed 9 (1 on target) in the first half, showing just how sturdy the defensive blocks really were.
The second half opened up with both teams pushing to break the deadlock. However, despite early Cavs attempts, it was Ottawa that claimed the first goal, as Ballou Tabla laid the ball to Mendes Antinoro, who lobbed it in and brought the match to a 1-0 lead at 58 minutes (though this was tracked as an own goal).
The match was getting chippy and this came to a head at 63 minutes as Kamden Fewo elbowed an Ottawa player in the stomach during a set piece. Straight red card was issued, and Cavalry had a mountain to climb. A few minutes later, a quick counter attack from Ottawa brought them to a 2-0 lead courtesy of Ballou Tabla again, with help from David Rodriguez.
Staring down the potential of a loss, Cavalry threw themselves against the Ottawa defences repeatedly, and for stretches of the final quarter it was often difficult to tell that they were playing a man down. However, numbers do tell and Ottawa’s Joaquim Coulanges found an opportunity to solo his way through the Cavalry defence and bring the game to 3-0.
In the final minutes, Caniggia Elva was able to land a clean shot for the Cavalry, bringing the final score to 3-1. Cavalry would have to wait for their win, but some honour was preserved.
Vancouver vs. Pacific (1-1)
With Vancouver hunting their first win and Pacific smarting from 5 goals conceded in the last two, the stage was set for the first Salish Sea Derby of 2025.
Vancouver opened the game with early pushes and were quite active, making several daring passes that showed a more confident team than I think I have seen previously from them. This paid off at 16 minutes, when a missed Pacific pass found Terrain Campbell, who forwarded it to Nicolas Mezquida, and Vancouver was up 1-0 (marking their third goal in the season so far, and second from the Uruguayan player.)
The defensive line for Pacific felt somewhat porous, but as the half wore on, they began to get their bearings again, with Vancouver slowing down a bit and leaning heavier on the defensive. At halftime, Pacific was gaining the upper hand with 55% possession, though only 2 shots to their name.
The second half opened up with drama as Kunle Dada-Luke was sent off for violent conduct, leaving Vancouver to face the next 40 minutes a man down. Pacific opted for a systematic approach, passing their way into the attacks rather than relying on rapid rushes, and while Vancouver were able to make some forays up the pitch, they were increasingly fighting a defensive battle.
Ultimately, after Vancouver was under heavy pressure through 80 minutes, a corner kick from Marco Bustos found Aly Ndom, and a header equalised the score 1-1.
Pacific kept up the offence going, but despite a few last minute chances the game would end as a tie. This derby certainly had some bite as well: There was a combined 30 fouls, 7 yellow cards, plus the straight red.
Forge vs. York (2-2)
This was another geographical derby in the CPL, one where both teams had at least one win behind them, though Forge has certainly had the stronger start to the season, as they came into this match undefeated.
Both teams opened up energetically, but Forge feeling very jittery in the first minutes, missing a number of easy passes. York felt more confident, and would take the upper hand for much of the first half, with the Forge defence feeling a bit dishevelled and unable to contain incursions from the green shirts.
Despite the balance of play being against them, Forge would get on the scoreboard first at 11 minutes, after a tussle in the penalty box allowed Albanian defender Rezart Rama to kick it in, earning Forge the lead.
Only 2 minutes later, however, a long throw in from York’s Max Ferrari found Julian Altobelli, who manoeuvred the ball to Riley Ferrazzo for a long shot on goal, equalising the score, and earning his second goal of the season.
The fight was on, and York kept up the steady pressure on the Forge defensive zone, with an overeager defender earning York a penalty kick at 27 minutes. Julian Altobelli stepped up to the spot, and York was now ahead 2-1.
However, this was a match where nothing stays the same for long, as only 3 minutes later, Forge earned a penalty of their own, with Brian Wright equalising for Forge once again.
The second half would turn out to be a less dramatic affair. Forge sharpened up and felt more together and precise in possession, while York continued to try to control the midfield. However, with the high energy wearing out a bit on both sides, the tempo dropped some.
York continued to be able to penetrate the Forge backline, but the defence was solid enough that of the 5 additional shots taken, none were on target. Meanwhile in the other end, Forge was able to push for a few more chances, but few seemed convincing either. The end result would remain 2-2.
Up Next
After week four, here is the state of affairs: Ottawa and Halifax sit joint top of the table with 10 points. Forge sits at 8, while York and Pacific are both at 4 points. Vancouver gained another point, bringing them up to 2, beginning the crawl out of the bottom tier, while Cavalry and Valour sit on a single point with on less match played than the rest.
Looking ahead to the upcoming weekend, York plays Cavalry Friday night, and this is one where both teams need a win to start making head way. I think York has shown themselves more flexible and systematic in their play, but I also cannot shake the feeling that Cavalry is still finding their feet and could have better football ahead of them.
Saturday morning, Ottawa will be taking on Pacific, Ottawa is very confident right now and have the most goals in the league by a fair margin, which could prove a tough challenge for Pacific, doubly so in an away game for the Tridents.
Later on Saturday there are two more matches. Wanderers and Forge will throw down in Halifax, and this should be a great matchup between the two of the three undefeated teams in the league. Finally, Vancouver and Valour will duel, with both teams eager to claim their first win.