Cavalry FC made history on Thursday night at Starlight Stadium, becoming the first Canadian Premier League club to win a match in the Concacaf Champions Cup — stunning Liga MX side Pumas UNAM 2-1 in the first leg of their round one matchup.
Tobias Warschewski, on his 27th birthday no less, was the hero for Cavalry with a stunning matchwinner in the 80th minute sure to go viral across the footballing world. Charlie Trafford also scored for Cavalry, while Canadian youth international Santiago López scored his first professional goal in his first professional start for Pumas.
With neither Fraser Aird nor Diego Gutiérrez fully fit, and the departure of Daan Klomp, Cavalry lined up a little bit differently than they did in the 2024 CPL Final. Eryk Kobza stepped in at centre-back, Trafford in midfield, and winger Nicholas Wähling was a surprise selection at right-back. Pumas, meanwhile, made nine changes from the side that defeated Atlético San Luis on Sunday.
The tone was set inside the opening minute, as Ricardo Galindo slid in on Warschewski, earning himself an incredibly early yellow card. Trafford responded with a tackle of his own a few minutes later, conceding a dangerous free kick to the right of the Cavalry box. Ángel Rico’s free-kick was not particularly threatening, but Trafford did earn himself a booking in the build-up.
Cavalry appeared content to concede possession to the visitors in the early stages of the match, looking for opportunities to spring a quick press on the tight Starlight Stadium pitch. When they won the ball back, Cavalry’s front four of Warschewski, Ali Musse, Jay Herdman and Sergio Camargo were quick to get forward and create attacking opportunities.
Pumas created a few threatening moments from set pieces around the half-hour mark. A corner kick in the 32nd minute forced a good punch by goalkeeper Marco Carducci, and a brave block on the rebound.
The hosts responded with good chances of their own from some lovely transitional play. They created spaces, particularly for Herdman down the left, with quick one-touch passing. The final pass, however, let them down.
In the 44th minute, Pumas drew first blood. Piero Quispe’s shot from distance was stopped by Carducci, but he pushed the ball right into the path of López. The Canadian youth international made no mistake, smashing the ball into the top of the net from close range to put Pumas up 1-0.
It was a tough blow for Cavalry, who had done a lot right during the first half only to be undone mere minutes before the half-time whistle.
The Cavs looked to get on the front foot early in the second half, and created a half-chance in the 48th minute through a Trafford half-volley from outside the box. However, his effort was sliced well over the net. They came even closer a few minutes later from a dangerous Herdman corner kick, which was cleared off of the line.
Five minutes later, on yet another corner kick, Cavalry equalized. Another lovely delivery, this time from Musse, found Trafford alone in the six-yard box. The veteran midfielder’s powerful volley tied the match 1-1, stunning the visitors.
Ignited by the goal, Cavalry continued to fly forward. In the 66th minute, a lovely bit of interplay sent Camargo into the box, but the midfielder could not pick out Warschewski.
Looking to add what would be a crucial second goal in the match, and the tie, Cavalry added Aird and new signing Caniggia Elva off the bench.
In the 80th minute came a moment of pure magic. After tracking down the ball on the right flank, Musse sent a brilliant delivery across the box to Herdman. The winger’s deft header across goal picked out Warschewski, who took one touch to set himself midair, before swivelling and volleying the ball past Álex Padilla.
With the fourth official showing seven minutes of added time, Cavalry were forced to dig deep to see out a huge result against their significantly favoured opponents.
Cavalry will head down to Mexico City with the one-goal advantage, although with away goals in effect, López’ first-half effort could loom large. That second leg will be played on Thursday, Feb. 13 (6 p.m. MT/8 p.m. ET. OneSoccer).
Still, they are in unprecedented territory for a Canadian Premier League club, and were fully deserving of their monumental victory.
POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Cavalry FC: Carducci; Wähling (Aird 77′), Kobza, Montgomery, Kamdem; Shome, Trafford (Daley 67′); Musse, Camargo (Elva 77′), Herdman (Field 88′); Warschewski
Pumas UNAM: Padilla; Bennevendo, Galindo, Silva, Rivas, Monroy (Ávila 89′); Trigos, Rico (R. López 46′), Quispe; S. López (Ruvalcaba 73′) , Funes Mori
Goals
44′ — Santiago López (Pumas UNAM)
57′ — Charlie Trafford (Cavalry FC)
80′ — Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
Discipline
1′ — Ricardo Galindo (Pumas UNAM)
6′ — Charlie Trafford (Cavalry FC)
39′ — Shamit Shome (Pumas UNAM)
90+1′ — Fraser Aird (Cavalry FC)
90+1′ — Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
90+3′ — Marco Carducci (Cavalry FC)