Cavalry Football Club disrupt their CPL season opener when they host Forge FC

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Another exciting trip to Hamilton…

Another heavy defeat for Cavalry FC.

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In a test of last year's two champions – this time on Saturday 1 of the 2024 Canadian Premier League campaign – it was another disappointing final against rival Forge FC…

Another kick if you will.

“One more game,” said Cavaliers star Sergio Camargo, choosing not to let the season-opening loss – 2-1 – get him down too much. “First game of the season…against Forge. Another 90 minutes.

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“That was all.”

For Camargo itself, it was game #100 of the Cavalry colors — white on this day with green trim and accents as they released their super-crisp blizzard camouflage kit.

But despite scoring the first goal – a sweet chip off his head – Camargo saw hosts Forge unfurl their fourth playoff title banner before the opening kick, then rallied after trying to score twice in the final 20 minutes. behind the victory.

Again.

You'll recall that last fall, the Hammers scored a pair of world goals to keep the Cavs — the regular season kings — from winning the elusive CPL title.

It's happened in several other marquee games between the league's archrivals over the years — always epic battles.

As with other matches involving Forge and the Cavalry, the disappointing result was not due to a lack of effort by the Calgary club.

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“I thought it was a good game for us, especially on the road,” Cavalry GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. agreed. “When you come here, you're not given a lot, so we have to make it. , and I think we had some moments, especially in the first half.

“You take away their two goals – we want to get them back – because I thought we were strong defensively and you have to be on a big pitch against a good team,” Wheeldon continued. “You have to stick together as a unit. I thought for the most part we were. Therefore, we are somewhat satisfied with the result.

“And after (our goal) they kicked another gear, and I think we would have been better to respond because when I looked at the number of bodies in the box, I think we wanted to get those goals back. »

Camargo's goal in the 60th minute of the match was incredible.

Ali Mousse curled in a low corner at the near post and Camargo met the ball with a header that went over Chris Kalongo – now Forge's first-row goalkeeper Triston Henry has left the club. personal issues' — and to the far side of the net.

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“I like to say we built it,” Camargo said. “But it just came to me, and if Mussi didn't get it, he told me to go in front of that first postman. It came to me, I looked at it, and when I looked back, I was walking into the cage. So that was good.

“I took that moment to celebrate in front of the Forge fans. But at the end of the day, we didn't get the three points we wanted.”

Because just 10 minutes later, old rival Tristan Borges did his best to anger the Cavalry with an equaliser. The respectable veteran found space inside the box to bounce and unleash a slow curler that slipped past Eric Kobza's legs and past Marco Carducci into the arms of the searching keeper to equalise.

Six minutes later, striker Beni Badibanga gave the hosts a 2-1 lead with a header from a Cavalry defender inside the goal.

It was Borges – again – who made the play happen, finding a soft spot in an otherwise well-defended area and delivering a perfect pass to Badibanga in the center of the box for the winner.

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“These games are usually decided by the big players,” Wheeldon said. “If we look at the scores of all the goals in all the games we've played. I think Sergio is a big player in this league. Borges and Badibanga, two good players, took advantage of this opportunity, although there is a deviation (in the winning goal).

“But you earn your luck, so we have to work hard and make sure we get lucky in future games.”

The Cavaliers' next game is a trip to the nation's capital next Saturday to play Atlético Ottawa (1-0) ( noon, OneSoccer, OneSoccer.ca ).

Just like last year, when they opened the league table with five straight games – including a season-opening 2-2 draw with Forge – the Cavs will look to put the first decision behind them.

“It wasn't that we had a bad performance,” Wheeldon added. “We were good. But here, good is not accepted to win the game. If we want to be successful again, we have to raise that side.

“But we will build. It's a long season. A lot to build on. There's a lot of room for improvement.”

FREE BLOWS

Cavs starting XI: Goalie Carducci; defenders Kobza, Daan Klomp, Callum Montgomery and Bradley Camdem Fevo; midfielders Camargo, Shamit Chome, Diego Gutierrez and Charlie Trafford; and forwards Mousse and Toby Warszewski… Substitute members of the club: goalkeeper Jack Barrett; quarterback Tom Field; midfielders Fraser Aird and Lucas Diaz; and forwards Willie Akio, Malcolm Shaw and Lleyton Brooks… Cavalry Scratch: Goalie Mitchell Barrett; defensemen Michael Harms and Kaden Rogozinski; and midfielders Mael Henry (hamstring), Jesse Daly, Max Pipegrass and Niko Mironiuk … The CPL opened the campaign with a 2-1 win over Atlético York United FC in Ottawa on Saturday. HFX Wanderers FC took on Pacific FC in Victoria, BC on Saturday evening

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