Final Score: Pumas UNAM 2-0 Cavalry FC (3-2 agg.)
Goalscorers: Martínez 53′, 73′
2025 Concacaf Champions Cup
Round One (Leg Two)
Match in a minute or less
Cavalry FC were eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup on Thursday night following a 2-0 second-leg loss to Pumas in Mexico City.
The two goals overturned the series lead which Cavalry held after a historic victory in the first leg — with Pumas advancing 3-2 winners on aggregate. Cavalry played the entire second half down to ten men after Jay Herdman was shown a straight red card in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
A brace from second-half substitute Guillermo Martínez was the difference for the hosts on the night. Pumas now advance to face Costa Rican club Alajeulense in the round of 16, a matchup which begins on Mar. 4.
Three Observations
Cavalry FC’s Concacaf campaign comes to a bitter end, but they have made their mark in history
The final whistle at Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Thursday may have sounded full-time on Cavalry FC’s run in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, but there is no question that their historic performance is a monumental moment for Canadian soccer.
In making history as the first CPL club to win a match in this competition, which they accomplished in the first leg, Cavalry have now set the standard for not only themselves but all other clubs which represent the league in this tournament for many years to come. Canadian Premier League clubs can now dare to dream in this competition because Cavalry has demonstrated what is possible against the region’s very best.
“This is a historic club, three-time Champions, and we knew we’d be in tough, and we knew that we’d face the best players Pumas has,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “We didn’t realize we’d have to do it with 10 men for as long as we did. Hopefully, we made [them] sweat, but we gave it our very best, and I can’t be more proud of the way our guys [played].”
It felt like there might still be some magic in their tale when Marco Carducci made an outstanding penalty save on the stroke of half-time after Cavalry were hit with the double blow of Jay Herdman conceding a penalty and being sent off. But that only delayed the inevitable, as Pumas’ hunt for a goal was finally rewarded in the 53rd minute.
Cavalry were left feeling a little bit frustrated by some of the circumstances of their loss — Herdman’s red card included. They had already been shown red in the 15th minute after Charlie Trafford was judged to have caught José Caicedo on a clearance — only to have that reduced to a yellow by VAR. There were multiple other occasions where what looked like 50/50 challenges at worst ended up being called Cavalry fouls.
But in matches like this, a team can only worry about what is in its control, and for Cavalry on Thursday night that was their heroic effort. They never stopped running, never stopped believing, until the final whistle. Ali Musse made a lung-busting run down the right flank in second minute of second-half stoppage time, only to see his shot denied by Pumas keeper Alejandro Padilla. Shortly before the final whistle, all nine red Cavalry shirts, and the gray of Marco Carducci were in the box desperate to get on the end of a dangerous Musse free kick into the box — but none of them could.
It wasn’t to be on Thursday night, but for a Cavalry club who have shown a history of turning almost into someday, a performance like this over two legs over Pumas will only further expand their belief of what is possible. It will only help them to believe and achieve all the more the next time they reach this stage.
The Cavs now begin preparations for the 2025 Canadian Premier League regular season, which kicks off on Apr. 5. But they now do so emboldened by this incredible experience.
“I think the boys have earned themselves a few days off,” said Wheeldon Jr. with a wry smile. “We faced a giant tonight, and we were very close.”
Goliath lived on to fight another day on Thursday night, but Cavalry’s David now knows they have it within them to slay the very best in the region.
Pumas’ persistence pays off as they get the goals needed to advance
It was always going to be fairly one-way traffic on Thursday night.
With Pumas desperately needing a goal in order to advance following their 2-1 loss in the first leg, and Cavalry just as desperate to hold onto that lead in the exhausting elevation of Mexico City, the hosts were on the front foot for most of the 90 minutes.
For embattled Pumas manager Gustavo Lema, nothing was left up to chance on Thursday. He made seven changes from the first leg, including starting captain Lisandro Magallán, reigning Concacaf Player of the Year Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Argentine striker Ignacio Pussetto.
Pumas instantly went on the attack. They won a corner in just the second minute, and had their first shot attempt in the seventh. From there, it was a barrage of shots at Marco Carducci’s net, as they finished with 23 total shots, five of which were on target and 73 per cent possession.
In particular, Pumas looked to create overloads down the left flank, perhaps armed with the knowledge that Cavalry’s Nicolas Wähling was not a natural right-back as he filled in for the injured Fraser Aird. Many of their early chances came from crosses played by left wing-back Robert Ergas. The Uruguayan finished the match with a stunning 13 crosses attempted, albeit with only three finding their target — all of which were key passes. Wähling did well to deny many of those opportunities — but wave after wave of Pumas attack just kept coming.
Pumas thought they’d found their moment in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time when Jay Herdman was sent off, conceding a penalty in the process. But Pussetto’s penalty was brilliantly denied by Carducci.
The breakthrough finally came in the 53rd minute, and it was perhaps unsurprising that it again originated from the left wing, where this time Pussetto played provider as he swung in an excellent cross onto the head of second-half substitute Guillermo Martínez.
That goal gave Pumas the edge in the series on away goals, meaning Cavalry had to score another in order to advance. With this mind, they came out of their defensive shell, and in the 73rd minute Martínez picked up a bouncing ball between the Cavalry lines and fired a long-range effort which beat Carducci and doubled the score.
It wasn’t particularly clinical or especially creative from the Pumas attack on Thursday evening, but by sheer will and persistence — and a couple of moments of brilliance from Martínez — they powered through the Cavalry wall. As a result, they have earned themselves a well-deserved spot in the next round.
Cavalry put in a tireless defensive shift, but man disadvantage changes the game
After deploying a brilliant counter-attacking scheme perfectly in the first leg, Cavalry knew that they would have to shift their approach to deal with both the conditions and the intensity of Thursday’s second leg.
Looking to protect their aggregate lead, they shifted even deeper defensively, dropping Charlie Trafford back between central defenders Eryk Kobza and Callum Montgomery to form a back five. That occasionally even turned into six, with left-back Bradley Kamdem tucking in centrally and Jay Herdman covering his flank. That group was shielded by a compact midfield four.
“We knew we would have to defend,” said Wheeldon Jr. “The players that Pumas put out, I think we’ve earned their respect, and we knew that we had to change our shape and defend.”
Soaking up constant pressure from an aggressive Pumas side, Kobza, in particular, was brilliant on the night. The 23-year-old constantly denied Pumas attacking opportunities, winning five of seven duels, including both in the air, making five clearances, two interceptions and two tackles.
But Cavalry’s defensive shape was forced to make an unexpected shift just before half-time when Herdman was sent off, conceding a penalty in the process. Carducci’s outstanding penalty save put a bandage over the wound, but it felt like the damage had been done.
A battered and bruised Trafford was removed, and Cavalry were forced to adjust to playing two compact banks of four, with Tobias Warschewski isolated up top. It is hard to say if another body in the box would have denied Martínez his header in the 53rd minute, or if having another player on the pitch would have closed him down quicker in the 73rd. But there is no question that it changed what to that point had been a very effective gameplan for Cavalry.
Still, with 27 total clearances, nine blocked shots and nine interceptions it was a valiant defensive performance from Cavalry — one that forced Pumas to work incredibly hard to find their breakthrough.
“I think what we’ve got to reflect on is over 180 minutes, one goal difference, and we played with one less man,” said Wheeldon Jr. “I mean, come on, we’re seven years old and we’ve played a historic club so I’m very proud of the performance and of the attitude of my players.”
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Guillermo Martínez, Pumas UNAM
Pumas needed someone to step up and take their chance on Thursday night, and that turned out to be the Mexican international Martínez — whose brace off the bench made the difference for Pumas.
What’s next?
Pumas advance to take on 2024 Central American Cup Champions C.D. Alajuelense of Costa Rica. The first leg will be played on Mar. 4, with the second leg set for Mar. 13 at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Cavalry FC now turn their attention to the 2025 Canadian Premier League campaign, which they kick off against rivals Forge on Apr. 5 at Hamilton Stadium.
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.