We return to the Canadian Premier League for week five. 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.
Cavalry vs. York (2-1)
Both teams came into this with a lot on the table, York coming off a tough draw with Forge, and Cavalry eager to show that they can win games in their current incarnation.
The pace was set for a tough game, with only seconds passing before the first foul was committed. Cavalry started with an early push, turning the York three-man backline into a four or five, as midfielders fell back. Yet, the sturdy defence, combined with Cavalry feeling jittery and inaccurate meant, York were able to weather the attack and begin to work their way back up the field.
Much of the first half was a midfield contest, with both teams making forays, but very few shot opportunities presenting themselves. York generally just felt more solid on the ball.
With so few chances, it was a surprise when at 41 minutes, Cavalry’s number nine Tobias Warschewski received a long pass from Nicolas Wähling and finished the chance for his second goal of the season. The excitement was still in the air, when 4 minutes later, York’s Julian Altobelli headed it in at the other end, bringing the score back to 1-1.
The second half picked up with Cavalry on the front foot most of the half, pushing hard to try to secure their win of the season. York’s defenders held, well but had difficulties clearing lines decisively. Those defensive efforts ultimately failed at 68 minutes, when defender Fraser Aird caught the York goalkeeper off guard, and hoofed it in for a 2-1 scoreline.
Staring down a loss, York struggled to put forward a strong attack and Cavalry claimed their first win of the season.
All in all, I think both teams played well, with Cavalry starting off a bit shaky but really coming into their own as an attacking force, while York showed great composure and tactical ability, but just could not get the payoff in the final third.
Ottawa vs. Pacific (3-1)
Coming into this one, Pacific was looking to push up the table, while Ottawa was looking to build on a strong start to the season.
Ottawa tried to assert their intentions with a shot within the first minute, but the Tridents were able to rally and regain their footing quickly and spent much of the half feeling comfortably in control. While possession was quite evenly matched between the two teams, Pacific just felt much more secure on the ball and they felt very secure in the midfield, with Ottawa only managing to get 4 shots. The strong Pacific play was let down, however, by a series of long balls forward that failed to find targets and allow attacks.
Despite these challenges, 37 minutes in Ronan Kratt was able to steal the ball and score a goal at point blank distance. Ottawa tried to stage a quick response, but they would go to the half down a goal.
On a sad note, Ottawa’s star defender Amer Didic had to be substituted due to a heavy leg injury, and was carried from the pitch on a stretcher.
If there is one lesson that is clear from watching Atletico this season, it’s that they don’t stay on the back foot for long. The halftime rally allowed them to come back in form, while a sticky Pacific defence often had to fall back to a low block defending the penalty box.
Ottawa simply could not be stopped in the second half, as Goals came in at 54 minutes through Kevin Dos Santos with an absolute long range cannon ball, 64 minutes from Gabriel Antinoro, and 69 minutes from David Rodrigues, dismantling any chance Pacific had of getting a point out of this match.
Overall, the match was a good showcase of how a team that is weaker on paper can get the upper hand, as Pacific did in the first half. That said, this is difficult to sustain for a full match. Once Ottawa was in control in the second half, they rarely let up.
Halifax vs. Forge (0-0)
With Wanderers sitting high in the table and Forge only 2 points behind, both teams were guaranteed to come in with strong ambitions.
The Wanderers looked to make a statement immediately, with defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguere trying to head it in from a set piece. Forge would attempt to do the same moments later, as Brian Wright received a long pass, but missed the awkward shot across the front of the goal.
With that, the match settled in to a routine, as Forge mounted a series of attacks, while Halifax wound up playing a more defensive endeavour. Yet, the Wanderers stingy backline was able to defuse and absorb those Forge each attacks.
Forge certainly had the upper hand in the individual challenges and maintained the edge on possession. It is perhaps hard to tell if Halifax had difficulty getting plays going, or if they were contenting themselves to wearing out the more aggressive side, by letting them press and then eating up the attack at the back.
After the break, the second forty-five saw the Wanderers far more in their element: Able to move and manoeuvre around the Forge players, and having a lot more energy to burn. Forge continued their approach of heavy, pressing football, but did feel a bit less sharp as time went on.
In the end, neither team could find a breakthrough and the match finished scoreless.
Valour vs. Vancouver (1-3)
Few teams would be more eager to get ahead than these two, having had difficult starts to their seasons: Valour having only a single goal to their name, while Vancouver had the chance of a first win slip away last week against Pacific.
The start of the match was stop and go, with plenty of fouls, but as things got underway properly, Valour took the initiative, feeling both more on the ball and a bit more fluid in the pushes, with a somewhat disjointed Vancouver side trying to get their composure.
New Vancouver FC defender Aidan O’Connor saved Vancouver from going down a goal in the middle of the half, which also marked a turning point for his team, as a renewed attack resulted in a free kick. From the set piece, Vasco Fry to collected a rebound and fired it home, opening the core for VFC.
Vancouver has held leads several time this season and let them slip away. However, any doubts were dulled when Alejandro Diaz masterfully caught a long ball forward with the tip of his foot and then lobbed it past a hapless Valour goalkeeper, doubling the advantage.
From there, the pace eased up somewhat, with Valour feeling distinctly off-kilter until the whistle blew. A difficult first half for the home side, producing no shots on target and barely over 40% possession.
As the second half opened, Valour came out with more determination in their attacks, though Vancouver was able to keep them at arms length. The tempo from the Vancouver side lessened perceptibly with periods of heavy passing. Not quite parking the bus, but certainly a more measured approach. When your team has lost leads before, it is hard to not be wary.
Rather than the match ending quietly, things picked up as Kris Twardek received a second yellow for Valour, and was sent off.
Undeterred, Valour’s Xavier Venancio nailed a long shot a few minutes, bringing the score to 2-1 Vancouver.
When a team goes down a man, one of two things tends to happen. First, the team might collapse back into a defensive block to try to fight it out and minimise the loss. Second, they come out swinging as hard as possible, to keep the opposing squad pinned back. Being down a goal, Valour had no other choice but to push with everything they had.
With five minutes left, Valour’s Jevontae Layne received a second yellow, and reduced the squad to 9. To their credit, Valour stuck it out as well as they could. In the end though, it was was too much to overcome, as Vancouver would notch a third late, for a final score of 3-1 and the first win of the season for the Langley-based side.
What’s Next
Currently, Atletico Ottawa is sitting strong on 13 points, remaining undefeated. In second place, we find the HFX Wanderers at 11 points, also undefeated. In third, Forge is sitting at 9 points. Vancouver FC has begun to climb the table at 5 points, bringing them to 4th. Cavalry, York, and Pacific all sit at 4 points. Finally, Valour has a single point to their name, along with the current wooden spoon.
As always, remember that the games played are not even between every team, though as the season goes on, this will be evened out.
Week Six will see some teams worn from Canadian Championship matches, but here is what the weekend will look like in CPL play.
On Saturday, Ottawa will face Valour in a top versus bottom match. Ottawa is no doubt looking at this as 3 points to keep the Halifax at bay, while Valour has a tough away game awaiting them. The Wanderers will play Cavalry at home. If they are to keep to the 2nd spot, this is a match they will need to perform well in, though I imagine their confidence in their defensive play remains unshaken.
Finally Pacific and York will play, allowing either team to gain ground and surpass Cavalry with a win. Going into it, while their records of 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses are identical, York has managed 3 more goals so far.
The last game of the week will come on Tuesday with Forge playing Ottawa. Ottawa has been a powerhouse of goal scoring this season, but nobody has conceded fewer goals than Forge, and the tough play-style might just be the thing to stop Ottawa in their tracks.