Cavalry FC have maintained their undefeated streak to start the 2026 Canadian Premier League season, as they defeated Vancouver FC 2-0 at Willoughby Community Park on Sunday.
Following a scoreless first half, Cavalry came alive in the second half, as Tobias Warschewski opened the scoring for the visitors in the 70th minute before Levi Laing sealed the victory deep into second-half stoppage time.
Heading into this match, both teams made some changes to their lineups after featuring in the Canadian Championship last weekend, with both picking up wins in their respective preliminary round matches to set up matchups against MLS opposition in the quarter-finals.
After beating Langley United 2-0, Vancouver made three changes to their team, with Kian Proctor, Isak Ssewankambo and Aboubacar Traore entering for Paris Gee, Emrick Fotsing and Thierno Bah. Meanwhile, Cavalry made just one change to their team that beat Pacific 3-1, as Adam Pearlman entered for Levi Laing.
Warschewski looked to get the visitors off and running early, as he found a pocket of space in midfield, but his decision to attempt to chip Vancouver's Callum Irving backfired as his shot sailed just wide of the goal. Then, not long after, Ali Musse had a glorious chance fall for him in Vancouver's box, but despite being wide open, the Cavalry attacker wildly sliced his shot far wide of the goal.
Having absorbed that early wave of Cavalry pressure, Vancouver generated a chance of their own in the 21st minute. After a nice chipped pass into the box from Mohamed Amissi, Nicolás Mezquida looked in prime position to score, but he slashed at his shot, which made it easier for Nathan Ingham to get in front of.
From there, though, the game slowed down, as both teams settled into a rhythm. As a result, the next big chance for either team didn't come until the 41st minute, as Bradley Kamdem found Warschewski with a nice cross, but the Cavalry striker sent his header just wide of the goal.
At the other end of the pitch, Vancouver had another great look at goal in the 44th minute, as Mezquida stepped up to take a free kick won by Aboubacar Traore, curling his attempt just wide of the mark.
Moments later, however, the half came to an end, leaving both teams to hit the reset button before the second half came around, as they looked to inject some offensive life into what had been an evenly contested defensive affair up until that point.
On the other side of the break, Vancouver came out strongly with that in mind, and were nearly rewarded for their shift in posture in the 49th minute as Mezquida fired a dangerous looping shot from distance, one that forced an awkward save out of Ingham.
Looking to bring some attacking energy of their own, Cavalry turned a string of consecutive set pieces into some attacking momentum in the 58th minute, as Goteh Ntignee had a shot from distance that sailed just past the post. Then, 10 minutes later, Harry Paton, who had just come onto the field as a substitute, fired a shot from a similar spot, finding the hands of Irving with his attempt.
Eventually, though, that Cavalry pressure would pay off in the 70th minute. After picking up the ball in midfield, Ntignee found the run of Warschewski with a nice ball in behind, and the Cavalry striker made no mistake on the breakaway, slotting the ball into the bottom corner with ease.
Eager to put the game away, Cavalry almost doubled their lead in the 83rd minute, as Ntignee found Nathaniel Edwards with a lovely cross, but the Cavalry substitute was unable to capitalize on the chance, firing his shot right at Irving.
At the other end, Vancouver almost immediately made Cavalry pay for that missed chance, as Emrick Fotsing got on the end of a nice cross into the box, but his header was easily saved by Ingham.
Then, Fotsing had an even better chance in the 90th minute, as Damiano Pecile found him with a perfect corner towards the back post, but Fotsing's powerful header was nicely blocked by a Cavalry defender inside the six-yard box.
Continuing a lively end to the match, Ntignee almost sealed the victory for his side less than a minute later, as he burst through the Vancouver defence, but he was denied a goal after a fantastic save from Irving.
Eventually, though, Cavalry would find their second goal. After getting an opportunity to close out the game as a striker, Laing, who usually plays as a defender, flexed his offensive chops, as he capitalized on a rare mishap from Irving before slotting home into an empty net to seal the victory for his side.
As a result, Cavalry will end this matchday in second in the table, just two points behind Forge, keeping them within striking distance heading into the next week of action.
Box Score
Lineups
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Field, Proctor; Ssewankambo (Pecile 67'), Polisi (Powell 80'); Traore, Mezquida (Bah 67'), Amissi (Fotsing 80'); Campbell (Mousset 75')
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Pearlman, Klomp, Didić, Kamdem; Camargo (Myroniuk 90+3'), Kobza; Musse (Paton 62'), Warschewski (Laing 90+5'), Ntignee; Elva (Edwards 62')
Goals
70' — Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
90+7' — Levi Laing (Cavalry FC)
Discipline
11' — Yellow: Mohamed Amissi (Vancouver FC)
23' — Yellow: Aboubacar Traore (Vancouver FC)
54' — Yellow: Nicolás Mezquida (Vancouver FC)
66' — Yellow: Nathan Ingham (Cavalry FC)
66' — Yellow: Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
88' — Yellow: Lys Mousset (Vancouver FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Goteh Ntignee, Cavalry FC
Ntignee was lively in this game, as he did a lot of important running on the wing for Cavalry.
Offensively, he generated an assist, along with two key passes and two shots, while also completing four out of seven of his dribbles and winning four fouls. Then, defensively, he made one tackle, had two blocks, two clearances, one interception, seven recoveries and won nine out of 20 duels to cap off a strong overall performance.
What’s next?
Vancouver will stay at home for their next match, as they are set to host FC Supra du Québec on Saturday, May 23rd at Willoughby Community Park (3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET). Meanwhile, Cavalry will head back to Calgary for a clash against Pacific FC at ATCO Field on Sunday, May 24th (2:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. MT).
For broadcast details of the 2026 CPL season, go to cplsoccer.com/watch.