September 22, 2023...Preview:...York United FC vs. Cavalry FC - 2023 #101 (from canpl.ca)
PREVIEW: York United FC vs. Cavalry FC — 2023 Match #101
2023-09-22
by CHARLIE O’CONNOR-CLARKE, DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR (@CHARLIEJCLARKE)
CPL Regular Season — Match #101
York United FC vs. Cavalry FC
September 22, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT
York Lions Stadium in Toronto, Ontario
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The Canadian Premier League Shield cannot quite be won at York Lions Stadium this weekend, but Cavalry FC can get very close.
The Cavs take on York United on Saturday hoping to take one step further to lifting silverware as 2023 regular season champions.
They enter matchweek 24 atop the table with 46 points — six clear of second-place Pacific FC — and, essentially, a magic
number of four.
Put simply: if Cavalry beat York, then they’ll clinch the title if Pacific FC fail to beat Forge FC later on Saturday night,
and finally lift a trophy in Calgary.
Last weekend, Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s side continued its torrid run of form, extending their unbeaten run to six games
(five of which were wins) by beating Vancouver FC 2-1 at ATCO Field. They haven’t lost in over a month (a 3-2 defeat at Valour),
and they’d certainly like to continue that trend at York.
However, the Nine Stripes will aim to spoil Cavalry’s streak, because they’re fighting for their playoff lives at the moment.
York United sit in sixth place on 32 points, which has them within touching distance of fifth-place Atlético Ottawa (33 points)
in the final playoff spot.
York have had a frustrating few weeks lately, losing their last two games — both at home — in fairly decisive fashion.
They were beaten 4-1 by Pacific FC last time out, in a match where they conceded early and the challenges only compounded
from there.
Still, with the pack not pulling away much the last couple weeks, York remain very much alive in the playoff race.
“There will be some changes, but we need energy, and we need guys that will come and put in a shift,” York gaffer
Martin Nash said. “Whatever role it is, whether they’re starting, they’re coming off the bench; you have to come in
and give everything. If people come in and give everything for the cause, we have the ability to make the playoffs.”
Games between these two sides — particularly between coaches Wheeldon and Nash, who was once Wheeldon’s assistant
at Cavalry — have historically been tight, although Cavalry have an edge. Recently, though, the Nine Stripes have played
some very close games with the Cavs; they split the season series in 2022 and have an opportunity to do so again
this year, having won the first meeting but lost the last two.
Their last fixture was in mid-August, when Ali Musse scored just a minute in and William Akio bagged the winner off
the bench in a 2-1 result for Cavalry.
With regard to availability, Cavalry are operating at almost full capacity, Akio being the only doubt with a minor thigh
issue. York, meanwhile, are generally healthy, although they’ll be without both Mo Babouli and Noah Abatneh as they
both have one game left in their suspensions. Brem Soumaoro, however, will be once again available for selection after
returning from international duty with Liberia.
So, will York United get themselves back on a path to the postseason? Or will Cavalry continue their stampede toward
the title? Either way, expect a high degree of intensity at York Lions Stadium on Saturday.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
York desperate to figure out home form: When the schedule came out, the Nine Stripes will have looked at this
four-game homestand near the end of the season as a blessing; they’re at home for about a full month before their
last game of the year is on the road against Vancouver FC. However, that home field advantage is slipping away
rapidly, and they’ve lost the first two matches of this stretch already. York United have won just one of their
last seven home matches, and their last in the CPL in points at home with 11 from 12 games. That’s something
they have to turn around very quickly if they’re to stand a chance of making the playoffs.
Cavalry proving mettle in close games: On this current unbeaten streak for the Cavs, they’ve shown an incredible
ability to shut down games, with all five of their wins being by just one goal. In fact, eight of their 13 wins
have been by just one goal, and all but three of their 13 away games have been either decided by one goal
or a draw. While Tommy Wheeldon Jr. and his staff might have preferred a more comfortable margin of victory
in some of those, it’s nonetheless impressive to see his team develop such a habit of coming out on top in extremely
tight games.
Can York start strong against stingy Cavs’ first-half defence? Some contrasting statistics heading into this game:
Cavalry have conceded a goal in the first half of just two of their last 15 games. York, meanwhile, haven’t scored
a first-half goal in their last six matches, and their last first-half goal at home was on June 21 against Halifax.
So, a priority heading into this match for Martin Nash and his staff will be ensuring players are up for the battle
from minute one. They can’t afford to fall behind against Cavalry, and they’ll need to find a way to open them
up early. Coming out flying would go a long way toward dispelling negativity of the last couple matches for York,
who desperately need to find a way to beat the top team in the CPL. “You don’t want to have to [come back] against
Cavalry, who can shut up shop well, they’re as comfortable playing without the ball as playing with it,” Nash said
Friday. “It’s not an easy task, they’re the hottest team in the league, but I think we have the ability to push them.
We’ve played them tough three times this year.”
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
York United: Himaras; Esprit, Thompson, Mourdoukoutas, Ferrari; Soumaoro, Gagnon-Laparé; Santos, Ricci, Bayiha; De Rosario
Cavalry FC: Carducci; Kobza, Klomp, Kamdem; Aird, Daley, Trafford, Field; Camargo, Bevan, Musse
ALL-TIME SERIES
York United wins: 3 || Cavalry FC wins: 11 || Draws: 2
Last meeting:
August 20, 2023 — Cavalry FC 2-1 York United
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