Inter Toronto travelled to Calgary on Saturday in search of all three points but had reason to hold their heads high after earning a 1–1 draw against a Cavalry FC side that continues to look dangerous in front of goal.
It was the home side that struck first in its second match of the season on ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows. Ali Musse floated a long-range free kick into the six-yard box in the 36th minute, finding Daan Klomp. The Dutchman connected to score his second goal of the season, both coming off headers.
Persistent pressure from the Cavalry squad couldn’t break Toronto a second time. Instead, it was the visitors who struck next just five minutes later, capitalizing on a corner from Beni Badibanga, who returned to Toronto’s starting eleven for the first time this season.
His ball found Tomasz Skublak — operating as the team’s No. 9 on the day — near the front post. The former Ontario Premier League striker flicked a no-look header over his right shoulder, looping it over Cavalry goalkeeper Nathan Ingham and into the top corner at the back post.
It was a sequence that Toronto had practiced on the training ground as the squad prepared to face the current league leaders.
“We were definitely training that,” said Skublak “It was a week of training those set pieces, especially in that front post there. We saw something we thought we could take advantage of. The ball came in exactly where it was supposed to go. Everyone did their role and [I] put the ball in the back of the net like my job was so I was very happy with that result and I think the guys were too.”
Clawing their way back from a goal down before the half ensured a good atmosphere in Toronto’s locker room at the break, said Skublak, and set the squad up to close the game out in such a way that guaranteed them at least one point on the road.
“It’s not three points but it’s a good result away from home,” said Skublak.
Moving Skublak to the No.9 role over Julian Altobelli on Sunday was a strategic move by Toronto Head Coach Mauro Eusaquio to counter Cavalry’s physicality. The addition of Badibanga and Luca Accettola to the starting XI also gave the squad an edge that help them to their resilient finish.
Resiliency was much needed as Cavalry peppered Toronto with chances throughout the match, finishing the 90 plus minutes with 17 shots to Toronto’s eight. Their expected goals sat at 1.71 to Toronto’s 0.36.
Cavalry’s Head Coach and General Manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said Cavalry had more than its fair share of attacking opportunities – including a chance by Levi Laing saved off the goal line at the death - but the team was disappointed they didn’t convert on at least once more.
“It was a decent performance just felt that we were just missing that extra pass,” he said.
For captain Sergio Camargo, the result was a reminder that Cavalry is only four games into the season. It’s easy to get ahead of themselves, he said, thinking they’re the finished product after three wins out of the game, including an emphatic win over defending champions Ottawa. But he likes what the squad is building, even if Sunday’s result didn’t go the way he wanted it to.
“We’re creating chances, our movement up top is probably the best I’ve seen it this early on in the season,” said Camargo. “I’m very happy with a lot of things but obviously we’re going to be frustrated with the result being 1-1 when we’re expecting to win every game.”
BOX SCORE
Starting XIs
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Kamdem, Laing, Klomp, Pearlman; Kobza, Paton (Baldisimo 88’); Ntignee (Edwards 78’), Camargo (Elva 72’), Musse (Herdman 72’); Warschewski
Inter Toronto: Urtiaga; Singh, Guzman, Sturing; Jimoh (Cordova 45’), Yeates, Accettola, Ferrari; Badibanga (Altobelli 73), Skublak, Bitar (Bassett 67’).
Goals
36' Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)
41' Tomasz Skublak (Inter Toronto)
Discipline
17' -- Yellow: Harry Paton (Cavalry FC)
19' -- Yellow: Luke Singh (Inter Toronto)
35' -- Yellow: Shola Jimoh (Inter Toronto)
43' -- Yellow: Frank Sturing (Inter Toronto)
73' -- Yellow: Juan Cordova (Inter Toronto)
74’ – Yellow: Levi Laing (Inter Toronto)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
**Tomasz Skublak (Inter Toronto)
**
A move from the wing, where he spent Inter Toronto’s first two matches, to his more natural No. 9 position suited Skublak, who not only scored the game-tying goal but used his physical presence to give Cavalry’s backline something to think about throughout the match.
What’s next?
Cavalry FC visits FC Supra du Québec at Stade Boréale on Sunday, May 3 at 3 p.m. ET, available on OneSoccer and RDS Direct.
Inter Toronto host Atlético Ottawa at the York Lions Stadium Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET, available on OneSoccer.
For complete broadcast schedule: cplsoccer.com/watch.