We return to the Canadian Premier League for week nine. 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. Forge (1-1)
Every football league has its big game: A Madrid and Barcelona, or Dortmund and Bayern.
If CPL has one, it is tempting to say it is Forge and Cavalry. In 23 and 24 they ended the league phase at the top of the table and 3 of the 6 finals has been between the two.
So I was ready for an exciting 90 minutes and it seemed like the game was going to pay off in spades when Sergio Camargo was able to score for Cavalry within the first 2 minutes. This is the sort of opener that makes a statement, allowing the Cavs to strike through the Forge defenders before they had a chance to compose themselves. It would also put Forge on the back foot as they now had the pressure on them.
However, Forge was able create a goal from a throw-in with Nana Ampomah earning the final touch, equalising the score at 16 minutes. It was now anybody’s game, but Cavalry would be pressed in the midfield and fighting a mostly defensive action as the minutes wore on. Particularly in the challenges, it felt like Forge was just going harder, preventing Cavalry from really creating a lot. According to the half time stats, Forge won 63% of challenges in the half, which certainly felt the case.
A second half then would be a question of whether Cavalry could reassert themselves or whether they would be content playing for a draw. Cavalry tried to repeat their efforts with some early attacks but much of the half was Forge trying to break down the Cavalry squad. Grinding, systematic play would carry the day, and Forge was able to set themselves up for several shots, but nothing was forthcoming and when the final whistle blew, the two titans of CPL would have to be satisfied with a tie.
Cavalry had been kept from creating many chances, but then as they showed, they can be deadly when they are allowed even a few.
York vs. Halifax (2-0)
A special game as it was part of the “CPL on tour” initiative, bringing Canadian Premier League to areas that do not currently have a team, in this case Quebec City. Over 7000 fans turned out in pouring rain to see York and Halifax go at it, with the usual team colours replaced with multi-coloured rain jackets. The football pitch repurposed made for a bit of a distracting spectacle but that didn’t seem to hinder anybody.
York opened up with the initiative, holding Halifax to the centre of the field and attempting a few rushes at the goal. The wet conditions were clear on the field as players slipped around and at times seemed to have difficulties with throw-ins. It certainly did not do anything to reduce what also started as a very chippy and physical confrontation.
York was determined to play to the hilt and for the first quarter, it was clear Halifax was having difficulties creating plays of their own, with York press constantly getting in their face whenever they had the ball. A long range shot from Giorgio Probo missed narrowly but it did little to ease up the Wanderers pinned back position. The efforts paid off at 28 minutes, when a long pass forward from Orlando Botello found a roving Julian Altobelli who gave the Wanderers goalkeeper no chance of any kind. 1-0 York.
Halifax got a bit of fire in their step from this and were able to force a few saves but continued to have difficulty in deploying their tactics, relying instead of shots of opportunity. The best opportunity came at 44 minutes as a free kick offered Lorenzo Callegari a power shot at goal, straight over the wall, but it was saved. York would go into the break (and hopefully some dry towels) with a 1 goal lead.
Halifax came back out with a renewed sense of purpose, showing York early that they were certainly not out of fighting spirit. Sean Rea kept pushing up the far left flank but getting muscled out or contained, making it difficult to get meaningful crosses into the York box.
As the game moved into the 60th minute (and the fouls kept accumulating) York felt like they were starting to be on the back footer both struggling to decisively force Halifax out of their third, but also losing several passes that could have started counters. However Halifax kept being foiled in their attempts, even as their efforts moved towards penetrating the centre using Probo and Wesley Timoteo.
With the final 15 ticking on, York looked like they were settling in to hold the line, against increasingly desperate (and sometimes poorly aimed) Wanderer shots. The dire weather conditions were notable for any plays along the touchline, as balls that would normally have been kept in play slipped out.
With 7 minutes regulation to go, Adonjah Reid found a clear opportunity as he slipped by the Halifax defenders and dodged a charge by the Halifax goalie (at the 35 yard line, easily marked on the CFL pitch) but the opportunity slipped away as Wanderers defenders rushed back and a 2-0 was prevented perhaps as much by luck as anything else.
However only a few minutes later, York midfielder Steffen Yeates was able to steal the ball after a careless pass and fire it in against a hapless keeper. After 5 minutes of stoppage, 2-0 York would be the final score. (York also won the yellow card score 5-2).
Vancouver vs. Ottawa (2-2)
With 2 defeats at their back, VFC was eager to make a statement and were able to get an early lead from Kunle Dada-Luke, striking from a flanking run. While the result was counted as an own-goal for Ottawa, it put the Eagles on the score-board 1-0. Vancouver continued playing quite decisively and with a strong defensive effort allowing them to contain Ottawa much of the time despite multiple break-ins to their final third of the pitch.
We have often seen Vancouver like this, where they can present a determined and energetic 30 or 45 minutes of football, but have difficulties going the distance, however, the effect was notable as Ottawa felt off balance for much of the half. A header in from Emrick Fotsing at the final minutes of the half made it 2-0.
Ottawa came out of half-time much regrouped, and were able to assert themselves in the game. Golden Boot chaser Samuel Salter got in the first goal at 54 minutes. I think the heart of a lot of Vancouver fans sank at this point, because we have seen this before where the gas just starts running out and they become unable to contest the final stretch of the game.
At 63 minutes David Rodriguez made his mark, bringing the score to 2-2. Faced with potentially letting their early lead turn into a defeat, Vancouver did revive and throw themselves back into it, but it is one thing to rattle Ottawa at the start of the game, it is quite another to do so in the heat of things.
A bitter day in the end, though I am not so sure Vancouver fans should feel that dejected. Ottawa subjected the Eagles to a barrage of shots (24, 8 on target) and had possession well over two thirds of the game. If Vancouver’s midfield is perhaps not stout enough, the back line was able to hold up to the worst of it.
Meanwhile, Ottawa can feel good about taking a point, but this was the second game in a row where they have shown that they can be pushed out of balance. As an added note, this was one of the less pleasant matches I have seen referee-wise with a constant start and stop quality to the game.
(Editor’s note: Since this match, VFC dropped a 3-1 result in a school day game (Wednesday morning) to Valour FC, more on this to come next week)
Pacific vs. Valour (0-0)
Valour and Pacific met in Winnipeg for their show down with both eager to move up the table. For Valour’s part they were also raring to remedy the outcome of their last encounter at Starlight where they lost 0-2.
Consequently, the match saw a Valour side trying to take and maintain initiative and keep Pacific having to work hard for any opportunities. Yellow cards flew quite early with both Bruno Figueiredo (for Valour) and Josh Heard (Pacific) getting booked in the first quarter.
Valour kept up the pressure into the second half with a number of attempts at goal forcing Max Anchor into a handful of saves but the firepower just did not quite prove to be sufficient to score, though they were able to keep Pacific of making much in the way of meaningful attempts.
By the end of the match only a single Pacific shot had come in on target and Valour had proven themselves superior both in passing accuracy and possession. It has been a rough start for Valour FC but I think a game like this shows there is a lot of potential there, if they can just get things to fit together right. Certainly they were in it until the end with two attempts past the 90 minutes, though neither were high-chance shots.
For Pacific’s part they got to leave the final statement from a free kick just as stoppage time was running out. A gentle lob to Aly Ndom allowed a header but as with Valour’s final attempts, there was just not enough fire behind it. Both teams would take a point away as the final scoreboard remained 0-0.
CPL Golden Boot
We continue the hunt for the Golden Boot:
7 Goals: Salter (Ottawa), Altobelli (York)
5 Goals: Rodriguez (Ottawa), Warschewski (Cavalry)
4 Goals: Musse (Cavalry)
3 Goals: Bitar (York), Coimbra (Wanderers), Santos (Ottawa), Zanatta (Pacific)
The race to 10 remains a tie between Salter and Altobelli, but Cavalry is showing their colours with two players in the contest as well. Any prospects you think could gain ranks with a bit of good play? Maybe an Ampomah or a Probo? Telfer?
Best Attack and Defence
When it comes to scoring goals, Atletico Ottawa is in a league of their own (well, not literally, you know what I mean). 24 goals scored is double that of their closest competitors in the table and 8 goals ahead of Cavalry. Meanwhile, the stingiest team to play against remains Forge with only 6 goals conceded all season.
Up Next
With Halifax finding misfortune against York and Ottawa gaining a point, Atletico Ottawa resumes the top spot at 18 points, while Halifax remains at 17. There were big hopes from the Cavalry and Forge camps about who might push ahead but with the two coming out of their contest even, they remain in the third and fourth spots with 14 points each. York claims the 5th spot at 10 points (putting them into the playoff spots) and Pacific (8), Vancouver (6) and Valour (5) bring up the rear. (Valour is up to 8 now after their win over VFC on Wednesday)
For those who like to do a bit of math to determine how playoffs are looking, last year, the lowest score to get into the playoffs was 34 points and everyone has 28 match days to get there with 9 gone (Ottawa, Wanderers, York, Pacific) or 8 (Cavalry, Forge, Vancouver, Valour)
On Saturday June 7th, Pacific will play Ottawa at Starlight. Ottawa is not a defensively robust team with 15 goals against so far, but Pacific has struggled to score for their part with their past three outings scoreless. Ottawa will certainly view this match as a must-win to keep the Wanderers at bay.
Sunday June 8th sees Forge and Wanderers duke it out at Hamilton Stadium. When they met at the start of May, it was a tie and these are both strong defensive squads.
The same day, Cavalry will play York United. York is coming off two wins, which helped make it feel like their campaign is really getting going, while the Cavs have dished out some heavy punishment. Cavalry won the last encounter 2-1.
(Images: Canadian Premier League)