There is a new leader in the race for the Canadian Premier League Shield after seven match weeks, as Cavalry FC moved into top spot in the standings following a 3-0 home win over Pacific FC on Sunday evening
The Cavs entered the final CPL match of the weekend knowing that a victory would send them to the top of the table after Forge FC suffered its first loss of the season earlier in the day, falling to Atlético Ottawa by a score of 2-1.
On paper, the opportunity appeared straightforward for Cavalry against a Pacific side still searching for its first win of the 2026 campaign — a side the Cavs had already beaten twice this year across league and TELUS Canadian Championship play.
But Pacific arrived in Calgary determined to change the narrative surrounding its season so far, a story that began to shift earlier in the week when the club mutually agreed to part ways with longtime Head Coach James Merriman after a 0-5-1 start to the year.
The visitors, led on Sunday by Merriman’s former assistant coach Yiannis Tsala, showed some of the spirit captain Josh Heard had called for in the lead-up to the match during a competitive opening half against Cavalry. Tridents defender Kadin Chung provided the biggest moment before the break, racing back to make a dramatic goal-line clearance on a Goteh Ntignee breakaway that preserved a 0-0 scoreline heading into halftime.
The stats sheet at the half reflected a fairly even contest despite Cavalry controlling the majority of possession. The home side held a slight edge in expected goals at 0.32 to Pacific’s 0.22, while outshooting the visitors 5-4 through the opening 45 minutes.
It took until the 59th minute for Cavalry to break the deadlock, with captain Sergio Camargo scoring his first goal of the season after capitalizing on a difficult moment for Pacific goalkeeper Eleias Himaras. Camargo chased down a long goal kick from Nathan Ingham that Himaras was unable to control cleanly with his chest. The Cavalry captain pounced on the loose ball, rounded the Pacific goalkeeper and calmly finished into the empty net to make it 1-0.
It was all Cavalry needed to open the floodgates. The hosts doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Amer Didic rose highest to head home a Tobias Warschewski corner. It was Didic’s first goal of the season and the assist marked Warschewski’s 60th all-time CPL goal contribution.
Warschewski then put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, finding the back of the net to score his sixth goal of the season as Cavalry sealed a 3-0 victory.
The full time statistics reflected just how dominant Cavalry became as the match wore on. The hosts finished with a 2.08 expected goals tally compared to Pacific’s 0.35, while outshooting the visitors 19 to 7 and holding a 7-0 advantage in shots on target. In the end, it was the kind of complete performance expected from a team sitting atop the CPL standings.
Box Score
Lineups
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Laing, Didić, Klomp, Pearlman (Baldisimo 81’); Ntignee (Ofori 89’), Kobza, Camargo (Myroniuk 81’), Herdman (Musse 61’); Warschewski, Elva (Paton 61’)
Pacific FC: Himaras; Greco-Taylor (Marshall 82’), Belluz, Konincks, Chung; Daniels (Diaz 58’), Baldisimo (Juhmi 62’), Gomulka; Toualy (Bustos 58’), Kratt (Vales 81’), Heard
Goals
59’ — Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
69’ — Amer Didic (Cavalry FC)
90+4' — Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
Discipline
50’ — Yellow: Adam Pearlman (Cavalry FC)
85’ — Yellow: Eryk Kobza (Cavalry FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Tobias Warschewski, Cavalry FC
It’s hard to understate Tobias Warschewski’s impact on Cavalry FC since joining the club, and everything that makes him such a difference-maker was on display Sunday. The German forward delivered a picture-perfect cross to Amer Didić for Cavalry’s second goal before getting on the scoresheet himself in another standout performance.
What’s next?
It will be a battle at the top of the table in Matchweek 8 when Cavalry travels to Hamilton Stadium to face Forge on Sunday, May 31 (4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT). Pacific is back at home next weekend, hosting Atlético Ottawa on Saturday, May 30. (6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT)
For broadcast details of the 2026 CPL season, go to \*\*cplsoccer.com/watch.\*\*