Final Score:  Cavalry FC 1-1 Atlético Ottawa
Goalscorers: Warschewski 2′, Zapater 39′
Game of the 2024 season: 41
CPL match: 525

Match in a minute or less

A thrilling end-to-end match between Cavalry FC and Atlético Ottawa ended in a 1-1 draw on Friday night at ATCO Field.

Both teams had plenty of chances to score, with 14 shot attempts each, plus Atlético Ottawa hitting the woodwork and both clubs having a number of good looks at goal inside the box.

When the final whistle blew, however, a Tobias Warschewski opener for Cavalry just two minutes into the match was cancelled out by an Alberto Zapater header — leaving the two sides level.

Cavalry and Atlético Ottawa remain the only two clubs in the league with only a single loss this season. The number of those matches that have ended in draws for Cavalry (eight, twice as many as any team in the league) and wins for Atlético Ottawa (a league-leading six), however, keep Atleti in first, and have Cavalry all the way down in sixth — with eight points separating them.

Three Observations

Depleted Cavalry FC tie club record for draws in a season as points continue to slip away

When Cavalry FC scored less than two minutes into Friday’s contest, it looked like they might be headed for their second significant victory of the month at ATCO Field.

Instead, it was the same old story for the 2023 regular season champions in 2024, who have traded in number one in the table for another ‘one’ this season — as in the lone point they seem to collect each and every week at this stage in the campaign.

With their eighth draw of the 2024 season through just 11 matches, Cavalry FC have already tied a club high for number of ties in a season, level with the 2021 campaign. That year, draw number eight came in game number 24.

It is also the league-leading ninth point that they have dropped from winning positions, another concerning trend that has played a role in Cavalry winning just two of eleven matches so far this season.

“After we scored a goal, we were not brave enough anymore,” said Cavalry FC defender Daan Klomp. “We didn’t press. We don’t find our pressing triggers, and yeah, I think we just need to push more for that second goal…it’s basically the way our season is going now. Every game we don’t win, we’re disappointed.”

Finishing remains a significant concern for the Cavalry team, who have now scored just four goals in their past five games. This despite 20 touches in the Atleti box on Friday adding to a league-leading 271, and five shots on target adding to 43 total this season (second most).

“We just need more goal scorers, other than Tobias Warschewski, I think the second [most] is one goal, and that’s [11] games into the season,” said Klomp. “That’s something we’re not happy with, and we know that, and we have to help each other going through that.”

As Klomp mentioned, Warschewski is now on an impressive six goals, good for second in the league, in his return to the CPL. The rest of the team, however, have scored just five, with a goal each for Fraser Aird, William Akio, Sergio Camargo, Malcolm Shaw and Charlie Trafford. The club have scored only 12 goals in 11 matches this season, with their other tally a Kris Twardek own-goal in the first meeting between Cavalry and Atlético Ottawa back on April 20 — also a 1-1 draw.

Cavalry are missing a lot of difference makers right now, with Ali Musse, Camargo, Akio, Maël Henry and Bradley Kamdem all unavailable on Friday through injury. But on paper, Cavalry have assembled the deepest team in the league, and need a lot more quality and production from their healthy attacking players.

Strong response from Atlético Ottawa after first loss of the season

There is no question that Atlético Ottawa were the more content of the two sides after Friday night’s match, especially with the performance that they delivered at ATCO Field. After their first, and only, loss of the 2024 season, Atleti rebounded with a strong showing.

For most of the game, they did not look like the road team. They held 48.8 per cent of the ball, the most they have managed at ATCO Field by a significant margin. The next highest they have managed in five all-time visits to ATCO Field was 35.56 per cent.

“I think that this has been the best game of football [for] the team at ATCO field,” said Atlético Ottawa manager Carlos González. “I think that [in past] seasons we’ve won here with a completely different style. And today, we were dominant for most of the game. And we created chances to win the game.”

Luke Singh came inches away from heading home a corner with the last touch of the first half, Ballou Tabla couldn’t make good on several quality chances he created and Manny Aparicio hit the crossbar in a match where Ottawa could have easily emerged with more than a single point.

“I mean, honestly, getting a result at Spruce Meadows is always a difficult thing to do,” said Atlético Ottawa goalkeeper Nate Ingham. “And I think you should judge teams based on how they deal with adversity, even if that is one loss. Looking at teams that win championships, they rarely, you know something we didn’t do in 2022, lose games back to back.”

Despite being happy with his side’s effort for the remainder of the 88 minutes, Ingham was still visibly frustrated after the match with the manner in which his side conceded their goal against. Avoid that, he said, and they are possibly talking about a clean sheet and a big victory.

“It was a lapse of judgment on a set piece, which was silly, because we talked about it before the match, we knew set pieces was going to be something that they were going to try and get something off of,” said Ingham.

The single point collected means that Atleti’s lead at the top of the CPL table is currently at just five points — and could be as low as four should Vancouver FC defeat Halifax Wanderers at home on Sunday.

“We’re running out of breathing room,” said Ingham. “Our form the last four games hasn’t been very good. You know, two draws, a loss and a win. I feel strongly you haven’t seen our best football.”

Cavalry’s defensive effort continues to be a bright spot in a difficult season

If there is one overriding positive that Cavalry can take out of Friday’s match it is just how committed and locked in this group has been defensively this season.

Zapater’s 38th-minute header was the only goal they have allowed in the past three matches, and they have conceded just 0.80 expected goals against per 90 — the lowest in the CPL this season. They have also faced just 28 shots on target, also a league-low.

A big part of that is the incredible defensive commitment from this group, who are consistently willing to put their bodies on the line to make crucial defensive interventions. Tom Field has been excellent of late stepping in for the injured Bradley Kamdem, and was near-perfect on Friday winning seven of eight duels, and possession eight times. Daan Klomp, meanwhile, remains immense and made several big blocks and clearances against the most dangerous attacking team in the league so far this season.

Here is a look at the overall defensive actions from the Cavalry backline on Friday, showing just how many chances they were able to thwart in and around their own box.

“They created a lot of chances, but I think our blocks were pretty good today,” said Cavalry’s Daan Klomp after the match. “And of course, we like not to do it, but when it’s last ditch, we love last ditch defending. So yeah, happy to help our the team with it. And yeah, Fraser at the end [of the match], Kobza had a couple, and of course, Tom Field as well. So that’s been really good.”

Cavalry were credited with eight blocks in total on Friday, and considering only two of Atlético Ottawa’s 14 shots were on target that is a big reason why.

“What our defenders need now is for us to score a second goal,” said Tommy Wheeldon Jr.. “We need that bit of insurance. We have the players to do so. The players have to do so.”

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Tobias Warschewski, Cavalry FC

The Cavalry striker now sits second in the league in scoring after bagging his sixth of the season on Friday night. He was a chance-creating machine for the Cavs during the match, with six shot attempts in total, three of which were on target. He also created two chances for teammates, and won possession eight times.

What’s next?

Cavalry FC travel to Halifax next for a Canada Day clash with the Halifax Wanderers on Monday, July 1 (1:00 p.m. MT / 3:00 p.m. ET). Atleti, meanwhile, are back home as they host Forge FC on Friday, June 28 (7:00 p.m. ET).

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