2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #20
Cavalry FC vs. Pacific FC
August 30, 2020 at 12:00 p.m ET/1:00 p.m. AT
UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

First-placed Cavalry FC takes on Pacific FC in the first of two Canadian Premier League matches on Sunday.

The Cavs arrive after a rare defeat to CPL expansion side Atlético Ottawa, who became just the third CPL side to beat Cavalry, joining Pacific and Forge FC in an exclusive club of conquerors. Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s side struggled to convert chances – a rare feat for a team that’d averaged two goals-a-game.

Pacific FC arrive on a first-win high after dispatching Valour FC in midweek. An early goal from Alejandro Diaz gave the Tridents the platform they needed to avoid a late collapse, though they needed to rely on some heroics from goalkeeper Callum Irving. Pa-Modou Kah’s first win as a CPL manager shot PFC up the standings as the season heads into the home stretch..

After this, Pacific returns to the pitch Wednesday for their first-ever tilt with Atlético Ottawa (8pm ET/9pm AT, OneSoccer). Cavalry enjoys a rare week off before facing York9 FC next Saturday (3pm ET/4pm AT, OneSoccer/CBC).

RELATED READING: 2020 CPL regular season: The Island Games

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Convert your chances: As trivial as this sounds, finishing should be a focus for the Cavs. Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s side was unlucky not to score against Ottawa, and could have earned a share of the points with the multiple quality scoring chances Nathan Mavila, Jordan Brown and others had. Maybe it was confidence (the Cavs had yet to trail at the Island Games) or maybe it was a lack of offensive star power, with Jair Cordova and Sergio Camargo still out due to injury.

• Growing chemistry: Pacific is slowly building a formidable defensive chemistry; Lukas MacNaughton and Thomas Meilleur-Giguère have played all but 30 minutes at centre back, Marcel de Jong and Kadin Chung make up arguably the best fullback combo in the league, and Matthew Baldismio has been brilliant in the defensive midfield hole, most recently in the clean sheet win against Valour – their first of the tournament. Sunday’s tilt with the mighty Cavs will show how far Pacific have come.

• Penalty luck: Pacific have had terrible luck in the CPL’s recent rash of penalties, conceding three goals from the spot and have yet to earn one themselves. Avoiding defensive errors in the 18-yard box will be paramount against a Cavalry side that is bound to penetrate the PFC defence often.

Injuries

Cavalry FC
Jair Cordova
Sergio Camargo

Pacific FC
None

Suspensions

Cavalry FC
None

Pacific FC
None

ALL-TIME SERIES

Cavalry wins: 4 || Draws: 1 || Pacific wins: 1

PREVIOUS MEETING

October 19, 2019: York9 FC 0, HFX Wanderers FC 2

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