Canadian Premier League — Match #84
Cavalry FC vs. Valour FC
October 2, 2019 — ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows (9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT)
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

Valour FC will exercise some old demons Wednesday when they head to Calgary to take on Cavalry FC at Spruce Meadows.

It’s the first time these two sides have met since Cavalry’s record-setting 8-0 win at IG Field on Labour Day. Cavalry’s win stands as the largest in CPL history with Oliver Minatel, Nico Pasquotti, Jordan Brown, Julian Büscher and Nik Ledgerwood among the goals.

RELATED READING: ‘Table never lies’: Wheeldon Jr. welcomes Forge finals matchup

Cavalry are coming off a bizarre York9 FC encounter just a few days ago. Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s side was reduced to nine men after a pair of second-half ejections, only to find the net via Nico Pasquotti’s slick solo effort. The Cavs would concede late on, just to guarantee they face Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League Finals.

The Cavs will be without Jose Escalante and Nathan Mavila after they were shown red cards in that match.

The Lions, meanwhile, took on an 11-day break after drawing HFX Wanderers 0-0 on Sept. 21. At 4-6-4, Valour could finish as high as third in the CPL Fall standings as they were officially eliminated from Finals 2019 contention over the weekend.

Both sides will be in action again on Saturday. Valour FC is set to host FC Edmonton (3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT/available on OneSoccer & CBCSports.ca) at IG Field. Cavalry FC will stay at home, set to take on HFX Wanderers (6:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. MT/available on OneSoccer).

KEYS TO THE MATCH

• Running on fumes: Cavalry is a bit thin at the back currently, especially with Jonathan Wheeldon working back from injury. Joel Waterman, Mason Trafford and Dominick Zator played all 90 minutes – some of which shorthanded – against York9 as Cavalry’s only natural centrebacks. Wheeldon Jr. will likely be forced to play all three again Wednesday. Could these tired legs be a way in for Valour’s speedy attackers?
• Front-facing: Valour’s attacking puzzle continues to be assembled and reassembled by Rob Gale, who again mixed things up in Halifax. Most recently we saw Tyler Attardo out on the wing, opposite Ali Musse. With Dylan Sacramento and Michael Petrasso potentially returning from knocks, and Macro Bustos all-but-guaranteed a spot, who knows how things will line up for Rob Gale Wednesday. These four matches will be good experimentation for Gale, though, as it could help shape his 2020 vision.
  
• Camargo’s return: On the bench Saturday, Cavalry’s number 10 could be ready to return from injury against, aptly, the last team he faced in CPL play on July 27. He was setting a record pace before the injury, with his 4.37 key passes per 90 over five times the league average – a stat that shows his ability to keep the ball in the final third. Much needed offensive dynamism for Wheeldon Jr. and co.
  

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Cavalry FC: Marco Carducci; Dominick Zator, Mason Trafford, Joel Waterman, Malyk Hamilton; Nik Ledgerwood, Julian Büscher; Nico Pasquotti, Sergio Camargo, Oliver Minatel; Dominique Malonga

Valour FC: Tyson Farago; Raphael Garcia, Skylar Thomas, Jordan Murrell, Raphael Ohin; Dylan Carriero, Louis Béland-Goyette, Dylan Sacramento; Tyler Attardo, Michele Paolucci, Marco Bustos

HEAD TO HEAD

May 8 – Cavalry FC 1-0 Valour FC
July 27 – Valour FC 1-1 Cavalry FC
Sept. 2 – Cavalry FC 0-8 Cavalry FC

STATS LEADERS

Dom Malonga – 7 goals (Cavalry FC)
Tyler Attardo & Michael Petrasso – 6 goals (Valour FC)

INJURIES

Martin Arguinarena (Valour FC) – Doubtful
Josip Golubar (Valour FC) – Out
Michael Petrasso (Valour FC) – Doubtful
Chris Serban (Cavalry FC) – Out (Knee)
Dean Northover (Cavalry FC) – Out (ACL)
Jonathan Wheeldon (Cavalry FC) – Doubtful

INTERNATIONAL DUTY

None

SUSPENSIONS

Jose Galan (Valour FC) – Yellow Card Accumulation
Jose Escalante (Cavalry FC) – Red Card
Nathan Mavila (Cavalry FC) – Red Card

ACCUMULATION
(Players are suspended for one match 14 days after accumulating a 4th Yellow Card)

Julian Büscher (Cavalry FC) – 3
Joel Waterman (Cavalry FC) – 3
Diego Gutierrez (Valour FC) – 3

REFEREES

Referee: Alain Ruch
ARs: Daniel Boudreau & Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
4th Official: Michael Mund