June 24, 2023...Preview: Cavalry FC vs. York United - 2023 Match #45 (from canpl.ca)
PREVIEW: Cavalry FC vs. York United — 2023 Match #45
2023-06-23
by BENEDICT RHODES, CANPL.CA CONTRIBUTOR (@BTFR17)
2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #45
Cavalry FC vs. York United
June 24, 2023 at 3 p.m. MT/ 5 p.m. ET
ATCO Field in Calgary, Alberta
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Cavalry FC host York United in the first match of a three-game weekend schedule in the Canadian Premier League,
as the two sides meet for the second time this season.
The last time these teams played each other was on May 28, at York Lions Stadium. The Nine Stripes won that match 1-0,
on a first half goal from Clément Bayiha, who sped behind the Cavs backline to collect the ball, rounded Marco Carducci,
and calmly shot the ball into the open goal. It was Cavalry who arguably had the better chances in the match, but they
weren’t able to execute in the big moments, and that would end up being their first defeat of 2023.
York played midweek, drawing 2-2 with Halifax Wanderers at York Lions Stadium on Wednesday night, a few days after
losing 1-0 to Pacific FC in Langford on Sunday. Cavalry, however, were one of two teams who didn’t play midweek (the other
being Atlético Ottawa), last playing on Saturday in Halifax, where they fell 3-1 after conceding twice in the second half.
Both teams will enter this match knowing that picking up the maximum three points could be vital for their positioning
in the table. A win for the home side Cavalry would see them leap over Halifax into fourth place, and just two points
back of second-place York. A win for the Nine Stripes would close the gap that Pacific FC has opened up at the top
of the table. The Tridents aren’t playing this weekend, and already have a game in hand over York, so Martin Nash’s side
will be well aware that being seven points back in second place with two more games played is something they should
be doing everything they can to avoid.
Cavalry are unbeaten at home this season, picking up two wins and three draws at ATCO Field in 2023. They come up against
a York side who have played very well away from home this season, however. The Nine Stripes have won away in Hamilton,
Halifax, and Ottawa — also drawing in Winnipeg, but losing both of their matches in Langford.
Both sides have players that will need to be on their best behaviour as well, with potential one-game suspensions for
yellow card accumulation looming, automatically triggered after a player picks up four cautions. Golden Boot leader
Myer Bevan and midfielder Charlie Trafford are both on three yellow cards for Cavalry, while a trio of crucial York
players — Paris Gee, Mo Babouli, and Austin Ricci — are all on three as well.
With the other two matches this weekend being played on Sunday, the spotlight on Saturday will deservedly be on an enticing
match at ATCO Field.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
Will York’s busy week of travel catch up to them?: Saturday’s match in Calgary will be York United’s third in seven days.
If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, the geography of Canada only adds to what has been a tiring week for Martin Nash’s side.
They started the week in British Columbia, where they fell 1-0 at Starlight Stadium to Pacific FC on Sunday. Then they went
home midweek, drawing 2-2 with Halifax Wanderers at York Lions Stadium on Wednesday, before hitting the road again to head
to Calgary. Three matches in three different provinces in seven days will be a test, but Cavalry boss Tommy Wheeldon Jr told
reporters Friday that it doesn’t necessarily provide his side — who haven’t played in a week — with an advantage. “It all
depends on momentum, to be honest,” he said. “We’ve been in situations where we’ve had travel and things in the past, and we’ve
played our best football. Sometimes you’re in that groove, versus having all the prep. Momentum is going to be key, it’s
something that whilst we’re at home we’ve got to take advantage of, and give them a reason to quit. If we don’t, I’m sure their
confidence of where they are in the league table will make them a competitive threat.”
Mason returns, but other Cavs stars could miss out through injury: Cavalry’s frontline will receive a boost this weekend,
as Tommy Wheeldon Jr revealed on Friday that English forward Joe Mason will make his return from injury, and be in the squad
to take on York. Mason hasn’t been in the side since the third weekend of the season, when he played 63 minutes in a 1-1 draw
with Valour FC. Mason is yet to score this season, but as Cavalry’s second-highest goalscorer all-time, and with his previous
track record overseas, York will be well aware of the threat he brings. Myer Bevan has led the way this year for the Cavs, scoring
a league-high six times through ten matches, and the chemistry between the two can be lethal for defenders when they’re firing
on all cylinders. Cavalry have been dealt a tough blow, however, as Sergio Camargo will miss Saturday’s match with a calf injury
suffered last week in Halifax. Jose Escalante is also “doubtful” according to Tommy Wheeldon Jr, with the Honduran likely to miss
out on what would be his 100th Cavalry FC appearance with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of training all week.
Will Ferrari get another start as a fullback?: In 2021, Max Ferrari gained a reputation for being one of the most versatile players
in the Canadian Premier League, thanks to his ability to play at either fullback position, or higher up the pitch on either flank
in attacking roles. After making 30 appearances in all competitions, and being nominated for the CPL’s U21 Player of the Year award,
Ferrari entered 2022 on a high, but injuries limited him to just 14 appearances. This year, healthy again, Ferrari is settling
nicely into a fullback role that he very well may be asked to play again on Saturday. He has strong competition on both sides,
with Jonathan Grant and Lassana Faye two very strong additions to the squad at right back and left back, respectively, but Ferrari
has shown time and time again that he is capable of being one of the better attacking wide players in the CPL. His versatility
is important as well, as he can switch flanks or positions during the match, although that can also be looked at another way — that
because he’s so versatile it can be hard for him to lock down a regular starting job in any one position. “It’s been something that
I’ve really enjoyed learning, and those learnings have been coming thick and fast,” Ferrari told OneSoccer’s Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic
this week about playing more often at fullback this season. “It’s something that as a pro I want to learn, because at the end
of the day, I’ll do anything that coach wants me to do to help pick up points, as we want to win games here.” The 22-year-old started
the past two matches at right back with Grant away on international duty, and the match before at left back as Faye was suspended,
so where, when, and how Nash uses him on Saturday will be interesting.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Cavalry FC: Carducci; Alarcon, Chima, Klomp, Kamdem; Trafford, Daley; Musse, Fisk, Ntignee; Bevan
York United: Giantsopoulos; Ferrari, Gee, Mourdoukoutas, Faye; Alou, Gagnon-Laparé; Bayiha, Babouli, Ricci; De Rosario
ALL-TIME SERIES
Cavalry FC wins: 9 || York United wins: 3 || Draws: 2
Last meeting:
May 28, 2023 – York United 1-0 Cavalry FC
KEY QUOTES
“They’ve had a really good purple patch right now. They went on a four-game winning streak, then they’ve lost, and now
they’re kind of getting back at it. Sometimes when you’re on that run you just want to keep playing, so that’s where
they’re at and we hope that this is an opportunity to play some tired legs. We’ve got to take them as a threat coming
to our place — Martin knows this pitch very well, and he knows our club very well. It’s going to be a really good game,
and a really good challenge for us to continue on with our unbeaten home streak.” — Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr
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