2024 CPL Regular Season — Match #53
Cavalry FC vs. York United FC
July 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. MT/4 p.m. ET
ATCO Field in Calgary, Alberta
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here

In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.

The Stampede party in Calgary continues at ATCO Field on Saturday afternoon, when Cavalry FC will vie for a second straight win as they take on red-hot York United FC.

The Cavs, about to hit the halfway point of this Canadian Premier League season with their 14th game, find themselves in sixth place, going into the weekend one point out of the fifth and final playoff spot. They’ve only lost two league matches all year, but with eight draws they have just 17 points to show for it.

However, things could be looking up for the Calgary side, who picked up their third win of 2024 — and first on the road — in Winnipeg last Sunday, defeating Valour FC 1-0 thanks to a Fraser Aird goal. That was their fourth clean sheet of the CPL campaign, as the Cavs’ defence continues to be solid.

This weekend though, Cavalry will play the only visiting CPL side to score more than one goal at ATCO Field this year. York United last came to Spruce Meadows in mid-May, and they scored twice in quick succession in the second half for a 2-1 lead — just moments before Malcolm Shaw equalized for Cavalry, securing a 2-2 draw.

The Cavs are unbeaten in four against York, winning the last three prior to the draw earlier this year. The Calgary side have won 12 of the 18 historical meetings with the Nine Stripes, and lost just three.

This isn’t the same York United team that Cavalry are used to, though.

In the past month, they’ve been arguably the most in-form team in the CPL, going into Matchweek 14 in second place after sitting as low as sixth after Week 9. Head coach Benjamín Mora has been at the helm for five games now after taking over in June, and his team is 3-1-1 in that stretch, including an away win over first-place Atlético Ottawa.

Last week, York rebounded from a loss in Winnipeg by beating Halifax Wanderers FC 2-1 at York Lions Stadium. That triumph was courtesy of an early Marki Voytsekhovskyy goal, followed by a well-hit effort from distance by Juan Cordóva.

Both sides will be without a couple of players this week. Cavalry continue to struggle with injuries, as star winger Ali Musse remains out, along with William Akio who was recently ruled out for the season. Meanwhile, York are still missing suspended forward Austin Ricci, although they’ll get left-back Orlando Botello back from his one-game suspension.

These two teams have produced some entertaining clashes before, but this one could be different; as Tommy Wheeldon Jr. faces Mora for the first time, what will both managers cook up for one another?

All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Cavalry’s backline starting to settle: The injury bug has hit Cavalry had this season, and stability in certain positions has been a bit of a luxury. Recently though, they’ve enjoyed some much-needed consistency at the back, as they have deployed the same back four — Fraser Aird, Eryk Kobza, Daan Klomp and Tom Field — in each of the last five matches. They’re 2-2-1 in that stretch, and have only conceded two goals. Of course, the Cavs would like to have scored more than three goals in the past five games, which could’ve turned some of those results into wins, but they can’t complain about the defensive effort. The back four has been operating at a consistently high level, and Marco Carducci has been excellent in goal behind them, so the foundations remain strong for Cavalry. York’s attack will be an interesting test for them, but the fact they’ve been able to find a rhythm in the last few weeks by playing the same personnel together is a major positive.

• Cordóva adds new wrinkle to York midfield: Since Mora took over at York, one of the most interesting changes has been the conversion of Juan Cordóva from right-back to central midfield. The Chilean-Canadian has dealt with injuries on and off this year, but when he’s been in the lineup he has been one of the most impressive players on the pitch, with his ability to win duels and advance the ball forward. Twice already since his move to midfield, he’s scored outrageous goals from distance, made possible by his positioning closer to the centre of the pitch. Cordóva will be up against a Cavalry midfield that’s one of the strongest in the CPL, so it’ll be difficult for him to find space to operate — at least, it’s unlikely he gets a chance to shoot from distance like that — but he can nonetheless make an impact funnelling the ball into attacking areas and will be a different challenge for Cavalry to deal with.

• Brand new challenge for Wheeldon Jr. and co? Tommy Wheeldon Jr. and his Cavalry staff have become extremely familiar with York United over the past couple of years, and these matchups became a close-fought chess match when Martin Nash — Wheeldon Jr.’s former assistant — was in charge. This, however, will be Cavalry’s first game against the new-look York under Benjamín Mora. That’ll be a very different challenge for the Cavs, who haven’t yet seen Mora’s tactics up close. Things are quite different in the way York have played over the past month, with some players — like Cordóva — taking on different roles, and a few other new features in the attacking build-up. This could be an excellent opportunity for the Nine Stripes to catch another opponent by surprise with something they haven’t anticipated. However, Cavalry do often choose to focus on their own tactics in these situations, so if they can control the ball and play the game on their own terms, they could continue their traditional dominance over York.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Kobza, Klomp, Field; Gutiérrez, Trafford; Shome, Camargo, Brooks; Warschewski

York United: Vincensini; Ferrari, Sturing, Abatneh, Botello; Adekugbe; Voytsekhovskyy, Cordóva, Martínez, Babouli; Wright

ALL-TIME SERIES

Cavalry wins: 12 || York United wins: 3 || Draws: 3

Last meeting:

May 19, 2024 — Cavalry FC 2-2 York United

KEY QUOTES

“We’re playing the most in-form team over the last five games, so that’s great motivation. It’s great to be back home again; we had a tough trip away to Halifax with flight cancellations and all that, then a good away win at Valour. We’re coming into this game knowing that we’re hitting the halfway point of the season and we’re still unbeaten at home, and we’re looking forward to carrying on from last week’s win.” — Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.