Cavalry FC now find themselves atop the CPL table, as they defeated Forge FC 2-1 at ATCO Field on Saturday, which allowed them to leapfrog their foes in the race for the CPL Shield.
Thanks to a late goal from Owen Antoniuk, who scored a screamer in the 88th minute, Cavalry were able to earn their first win in a CPL game in which they conceded first since October of 2024.
As a result, they'll finish this weekend two points ahead of the Hammers, who do hold a game in hand over Cavalry.
Despite that, Forge will be smarting about this missed opportunity to win, as they've won just once in their past 11 visits to Calgary, which is why they'll be extra frustrated with the way this match went.
After a slow start to proceedings, it was Forge who would manage to draw first blood as they found the back of the net in just the 20th minute.
It'd come off a Cavalry mistake, too, as Ali Musse turned the ball over to Forge's Nana Ampomah inside his half, and Ampomah made sure to make him pay for it. Once he had the ball, he ran into the box and found teammate Ismael Oketokoun with a cutback, and Oketokoun did the rest with a left-footed finish from close.
That was a big goal for Forge, who are typically automatic when taking the lead - ahead of this game, they had a record of 10W-0D-0L in the games in which they scored first.
Wanting to change that record, Cavalry almost atoned for their mistake just minutes later. There, Tobias Warschewski found Amer Didić with a perfect cross on a wide free kick, but Didić was unable to turn his right-footed shot towards goal, as the cross was just outside of his natural reach.
Then, moments later, Cavalry had another good chance on a corner, as Musse found the run of Daan Klomp at the near post on an inswinging cross, but Klomp's flicked shot sailed just over the top of the goal.
Continuing a strong stretch, Cavalry had their best chance of the game in the 32nd minute, as Cannigia Elva danced around a Forge defender to create a breakaway opportunity for himself, but despite finding himself alone with Forge goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud, Elva's low shot would surprisingly fly well wide of the target.
Soon after, Cavalry would get another boost, further aiding their comeback efforts. On a corner, Forge's Rezart Rama was determined to have committed an act of violent conduct in a coming together with a Cavalry player, and he was given a red card after a successful FVS challenge from the hosts.
Despite that, Forge continued to push for a second goal, even as they started to sit back and defend deeper in adjustment to the sending-off. As a result, they had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the fourth minute of stoppage time, as Marko Jevermovic curled a free kick towards the top corner, forcing an uncomfortable save out of Cavalry's Nathan Ingham.
At the other end, Cavalry had one last big chance before the half-time break, as Warschewski found Elva with another perfect set-piece delivery, but despite being unmarked in the box, Elva sent his header well wide of the goal from a dangerous position.
Moments later, the half-time whistle would blow, much to the relief of Forge, who looked to use the 15-minute break to reorganize themselves as they looked to fend off a hungry Cavalry attack from opening the scoring.
As expected, however, Cavalry picked up where they left off in the second half, continuing their push for a goal. Just minutes into the half, the ball fell to Harry Paton at the edge of the box, and despite being on his left foot, he fired a shot towards goal, only missing out on the top corner by a matter of inches.
Then, moments later, Elva had another chance inside the box for Cavalry, as the ball fell to him on the second phase of a set-piece, but he sent his shot right into the hands of Bertaud.
Continuing his strong game, Warschewski would play provider on yet another chance in the 56th minute, but despite finding an open Nathaniel Edwards at the back post, Edwards would be unable to turn his shot towards goal.
Eventually, that seemingly endless wave of pressure would finally pay off for Cavalry in the 63rd minute. Once again, it'd be Warschewski providing the service, too, as he found Klomp with a great cross towards the back post, and Klomp would do the rest with a deft touch and finish from close range to make it 1-1.
Despite that blow, however, Forge would manage to pull out a dangerous chance in the 71st minute. After a nice through ball from Aghilas Sadek, Oketokoun found himself one-on-one with Ingham, but good back pressure from Cavalry's Bradley Kamdem Fewo forced Oketokoun to rush the shot, which sliced just wide of the goal.
At the other end, the Cavalry pressure would continue, as Amer Didić attempted a speculative shot from distance in the 77th minute, forcing an awkward save out of Bertaud. Then, minutes later, Klomp came close to a second goal, but he'd be unable to turn a dangerous cross from Adam Pearlman on target with his header.
That sustained attacking play would eventually pave the way for Cavalry to finally find their first lead of the game in the 83rd minute, however. It started with Harry Paton, who found Owen Antoniuk at the edge of the box with a nice cutback, and Antoniuk did the rest from there, curling the ball into the top corner of the net with a first-time shot to make it 2-1.
Somehow, however, Forge would almost respond immediately with an equalizer, coming agonizingly close to make it 2-2 in the 86th minute. After a great set-piece delivery from Kyle Bekker, the ball hit off Antoine Batisse and zoomed towards the net, sailing just inches over the crossbar.
Soon after, though, things would go from bad to worse for Forge, as Jevermovic took down Ali Musse in a dangerous position and was sent off after it was determined he committed an act of DOGSO on the play, reducing Forge to nine players.
Naturally, that would help Cavalry see the match out from there, as they managed to defend their lead to ensure they'd pick up all three points and finish the day atop the league table, taking advantage of the extra space left by the players Forge had seen sent off.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Pearlman, Klomp, Didić, Kamdem Fewo (Ofori 72'); Camargo (Myroniuk 72'), H. Paton; Musse, Warschewski, Edwards (Antoniuk 72'); Elva
Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, Batisse, Jevremovic; Aromatario (Bekker 72'), B. Paton; Sadek (Massunda 72'), Borges (Bourgeois 44'), Ampomah (Krutzen 46'); Oketokoun (Filion 72')
Goals
20' - Ismael Oketokoun (Forge FC)
63' - Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)
83' - Owen Antoniuk (Cavalry FC)
Discipline
38' - Red: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
38' - Yellow: Nathaniel Edwards (Cavalry FC)
41' - Yellow: Dan Nimick (Forge FC)
42' - Yellow: Aghilas Sadek (Forge FC)
66' - Yellow: Anthony Aromatario (Forge FC)
79' - Yellow: Maxime Bourgeois (Forge FC)
90' - Red: Marko Jevremovic (Forge FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Tobias Warschewski, Cavalry FC
Dropped from his usual #9 role into more of an attacking midfield position, Warschewski pulled the strings for Cavalry in this game, assisting their first goal and creating five chances, including a whopping four big chances.
He also had two shots, completed five out of nine crosses, made four tackles, completed one recovery, and won four out of eight ground duels in Cavalry's victory.
What's Next?
Cavalry will remain at home for their next match, as they get set to host Atlético Ottawa at ATCO Field on Saturday, August 22nd (2:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. ET). Forge, meanwhile, will be back in action in midweek, as they'll return home to host FC Supra du Québec at Hamilton Stadium on Wednesday, August 19th (7:00 p.m. ET).