MENU
MATCH ANALYSIS: Cavalry FC make history in outstanding leg one Concacaf Champions Cup win over Pumas
February 7, 2025
Canadian Premier League
News

Final Score: Cavalry FC 2-1 Pumas UNAM
Goalscorers: Trafford 57′, Warschewski 80′; S. López 44′
2025 Concacaf Champions Cup
Round One (Leg One)

Match in a minute or less

Cavalry FC picked up a result that will send shockwaves across the Concacaf region on Thursday night, as they defeated Liga MX side Pumas 2-1 at Starlight Stadium.

Playing against one of the most famed clubs in the region, Cavalry became the first Canadian Premier League club to win a match in the Concacaf Champions Cup in what was the first leg of their first-round matchup.

A stunning goal from Tobias Warschewski in the 80th minute was the difference, while Charlie Trafford also scored for Cavalry in the 57th, who came back from a goal down after the Canadian youth international Santiago López opened the scoring for Pumas just before halftime.

For a night as special as it was, Cavalry will need to quickly refocus as the job is only half done. They now head down to Mexico City, where they will face a Pumas side desperate to avenge this result next Thursday, Feb. 13. Away goals are in effect, so López’s effort could still be significant in the ultimate result of this series.

Three Observations

Warschewski wondergoal hands Cavalry a historic victory

Less than a year ago, Tobias Warschewski stepped onto the pitch as a Cavalry player for the first time, at Starlight Stadium in a Concacaf Champions Cup fixture against Orlando City SC. In that time, the 27-year-old German striker has already managed to score three of the most important goals in the club’s history — in their past three matches no less.

It was his goal against Forge FC in the CPL Playoff qualifying semi-final which earned Cavalry a spot, and home-field advantage, in the 2024 CPL Final. He then opened the scoring in that final, also against Forge, from the penalty spot, a match which they won 2-1 to lift the North Star Cup for the first time. On Thursday, Warschewski scored the winner against Pumas as Cavalry became the first CPL club to secure a victory in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

There is no question that Thursday’s was the most stunning of the bunch, a Dennis Bergkamp-esque turn and volley that put an exclamation point on what was already an emphatic statement performance and result for Cavalry.

“Tobi’s a special player,” said Cavalry FC manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. after the match. “That’s high level, you know, if that’s an MLS or Liga MX player doing that, people are going to be raving about him.”

Warschewski’s wondergoal was the peak moment in a mountainous Cavalry performance on Thursday. On both sides of the ball, they showed the quality and competitiveness to be fully deserving of their victory.

Cavalry really could have capitulated when, after a pretty spotless first 44 minutes, they conceded just before the half. Instead, they came out even more emboldened in the second half, and made one of the seven corner kicks they earned count as Musse’s perfect delivery was met by Charlie Trafford to equalize — whose effort in midfield willed Cavalry forward for large parts of the match.

Knowing how vital it was to go down to Mexico City for the second leg with a lead to have any hope of advancing, Cavalry kept pressing and created Warschewski’s moment of magic in the 80th minute — one that will only further serve to elevate the sport in this country.

“I think you’ve seen with our national team able to do it at the Iceteca, as it was once called, now we’re able to rise and as a Canadian Premier League team that’s on a fraction of what they’re on, to go and produce that result is a mature performance from this group,” said Wheeldon Jr. “And I think that gives everyone else belief in this country.”

It doesn’t get any easier from here. Pumas left several key players at home on Thursday, who are now incredibly likely to at least be available next week in hopes of avoiding what would be seen as an embarrassing elimination for the Mexican club. They have an away goal. There is the not-so-little altitude factor in Mexico City, the colossal Estadio Olimpico Universitario, and one of the most vibrant fanbases in the Americas to contend with.

But Cavalry have earned this moment, and they will go into Mexico City once again ready to do battle with the giants, now full of confidence that it is possible to slay such a mighty foe.

Cavalry’s defensive discipline, counterattacking confidence key to victory

Cavalry’s Charlie Trafford heads a ball away against Pumas (Photo: Concacaf)

One of the key learnings for Cavalry FC in their first foray into the Concacaf Champions Cup last year against Orlando City SC was if they give any extra space to an opponent at this level, more often than not the ball is likely ending up in the back of your net.

With that in mind, Cavalry made their defensive approach to Thursday’s match paramount. Without possession, Cavalry were quick to drop their wide attackers back forming two compact banks of four, sometimes even with Sergio Camargo dropped in as well to have five across the midfield. They rarely pressed high up the tight Starlight Stadium pitch, and when they did they made sure to provide proper coverage.

Playing a Pumas side who themselves are more known for the defensive side of the game, Cavalry were more than willing to force the visitors to be uncomfortable protagonists. Cavalry held just 36 per cent of the ball during the match.

But when they did win the ball, their front four of Warschewski, Ali Musse, Camargo and Jay Herdman were quick to get forward in transition. In particular, Cavalry found plenty of joy playing into the spaces behind Pumas’ wingbacks, forcing Pumas’ back three to shift over to cover.

“I think Gustavo Lema and his staff get them in a very tough shape to break down,” said Wheeldon Jr. of Pumas. “That’s why they’re one of the best defensive teams [in Mexico]. So in order to break a team down, sometimes you need magic, which he had, but other times you need opportunity. And you get opportunities the more a team has the ball, the more spread out they become, and gaps appear.”

Considering it was Cavalry’s first match of the season, and the calibre of opposition they were facing, the level of execution in this tactical plan was nothing short of astounding.

With the notable exception of allowing Piero Quispe too much time in the half-space just before half-time, and then not reacting quickly enough to the rebound, Cavalry were defensively outstanding. Pumas managed just one other shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

For a club that brought back 20 players for the group that won the Canadian Premier League Final against Forge, the continuity of the sort of high-level football they played toward the end of the 2024 CPL campaign was on full display. On several occasions on Thursday night, including on the second goal, Cavalry broke down the Pumas backline with outstanding interplay.

“Chemistry, chemistry is key,” said Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “We only really had three changes from the lineup in the CPL Final. I thought Eryk Kobza came in and did very well. Charlie Trafford was obviously really imposing in what he did in terms of off the ball, as well as scoring the goal… [Nicholas] Wähling [came in] for Fraser Aird, but everyone knows the way we want to play.”

Cavalry know they will have to shift their approach slightly for the onslaught they will likely face in the altitude of Mexico City next Thursday. But the principles of performance remain the same, be outstanding and organized defensively and then remain lethal in attack situations to force Pumas to respect their attacking threat.

Canadian Santiago López scores first professional goal in first start for Pumas

Santiago López celebrates his goal against Pumas (Photo: Concacaf)

When he lined up at kickoff on the Starlight Stadium pitch on Thursday, it was already a night that Santiago López would never forget.

For the first time in his professional career, the 19-year-old was in the starting lineup for Pumas. Adding to the occasion, he was doing so in a country that means a lot to him. Having spent many of his formative years in Oakville Ont., López represents Canada at the youth international level, and was called into a senior camp by Jesse Marsch in October for a friendly against Panama.

It is fair to say that López made the most of the opportunity. In the 44th minute, he reacted quickest to rebound in the Cavalry box and showed excellent composure to smash home his first professional goal.

In 73 minutes up top alongside the veteran Rogelio Funes Mori, López was unquestionably the more involved of the duo. He won three fouls, including a couple in dangerous attacking positions, completed a dribble and got stuck in winning five of eleven duels.

As with any competitor, López will be bitterly disappointed not to be leaving Starlight Stadium with the perfect fairytale ending to the incredible story he wrote on Thursday: a victory for his side.

But the away goal he scored could still be a significant moment in this series, and for the talented young player with a bright future ahead of him, it is a special moment regardless.

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Tobias Warschewski, Cavalry FC

Warschewski’s goal will live long in the memory, but it came from a special performance that showcased all aspects of the German’s incredible arsenal. He moved fluidly throughout the frontline, winning duels, creating chances with excellent passes, beating players off the dribble (four of five completed) and doing an outstanding job of holding up the ball and keeping Cavalry in possession.

What’s next?

The sides will meet again in a week’s time, on this occasion at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City on Thursday, Feb. 13 (8 p.m. ET/ p.m. MT).

Watch the Concacaf Champions Cup live on OneSoccer. For a full list of what games will be available in round one, click here. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.