FC Supra du Québec vs. Cavalry FC
|
|---|
Well-established at the top of the table and already considered a team to watch in the CPL after just three matches, FC Supra is set to begin a stretch of three games in ten days that could solidify its rising status. Before facing Woodbridge in the Canadian Championship and traveling to take on Forge FC, Supra will get acclimated to the venue that will host them ten times this season: Boréale Stadium.
In Laval, Nick Razzaghi’s men will face one of the league's most in-form teams, still undefeated after four matches. Cavalry currently sits second in the standings with eight points (four matches), while FC Supra holds third with six points (three matches played).
Cavalry boasts several players in peak form. Defender Daan Klomp, a league mainstay for several seasons, is living up to his reputation again this year. In four matches, he has already been named to the Team of the Week twice and has scored two goals. Midfielder Harry Paton, who played for Forge FC last year, has also distinguished himself with two goals. He has integrated perfectly into the midfield, showing an impressive ability to push forward that perfectly complements Eryk Kobza’s more defensive profile.
Up front, the Alberta-based club also possesses serious threats that the Supra defense will need to watch closely. On the wings, Goteh Ntignee and Ali Musse display above-average explosiveness and dribbling skills. Musse’s quality on set pieces is also noteworthy; he recorded his first assist in the previous match via a free kick from the right flank. Finally, striker Tobias Warschewski, with his physically imposing frame, will be a handful for both the central defense and the midfielders, as he often drops deep to win back possession.
Adjustments for Supra
Bad news arrived for Supra during the week leading up to the match. Defender Ismaël Yeo, a starter in central defense alongside Matisse Chrétien, suffered a serious injury and will miss the remainder of the season. After tearing his knee ligaments during the match against the Halifax Wanderers, the young defender was replaced mid-game by Keesan Ferdinand. The former Columbus reserve player is the logical choice to take over, but with this injury, Supra has not only lost a starter but also crucial depth in a relatively thin area of the squad.
With three matches in ten days, the Quebecois head coach will be forced to rotate his squad. That said, the Canadian Championship match against Woodbridge seems like a more appropriate opportunity for squad rotation than the duel against Cavalry.
At the other end of the pitch, the attackers' ability to clinicaly finish chances will be another point of focus for Supra. Nick Razzaghi has identified this as a key area for improvement: the team must "kill off" the game whenever the opportunity arises. The good news is that the chances are being created.
Supra’s attacking firepower is already well-known across the league, personified by Sean Rea. Named to the Team of the Week three times in as many matches, the Montreal-born attacker has recorded one goal and one assist. His high work rate is highlighted by his 11 shot attempts, including 7 on target—the highest total in the CPL.
Supra vs. Cavalry: quite simply, a top-of-the-table clash.
NEWS & NOTES
- Supra defender Ismael Yeo will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an ACL injury last week against Halifax. Loïc Kwemi is also considered day-to-day for the home side.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
FC Supra du Québec: Milli; Abzi, Ferdinand, Chrétien, Auguste; Biello, Sissoko, Mlah; Choinière, Rea, Condé
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Kamdem, Klomp, Laing, Pearlman; Paton, Kobza, Camargo; Musse, Ntignee, Warschewski
