Cavalry FC advanced to the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship on Sunday, scoring twice away from home to see off Al Classico rivals FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium by a 2-0 score.

FC Edmonton introduced a number of new faces into their starting 11 for this cup match, with recent signees Adam Najem and Azriel Gonzalez both getting the start, as well as mid-season signing Matthew Durrans up top and backup goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa. Cavalry, meanwhile, offered a lot of firepower as well, with Joe Mason leading the line alongside Ben Fisk and Jose Hernandez while Tyson Farago took over as goalkeeper in relief of Marco Carducci.

The first half opened with some cagey play from both sides, neither wanting to blink first in this win-or-go-home contest. The two teams attempted to threaten the opposing goal with some long balls and crosses, but neither mustered anything too dangerous in the early stages. Edmonton nearly took the lead around the 25th minute, as fullback Jeannot Esua burst through midfield to unleash a cannon of a shot, but ‘keeper Tyson Farago just barely tipped it over the bar with a diving save.

Cavalry opened the scored around the half-hour mark, as Jose Escalante came down to the byline before cutting a lobbed cross back into the box. Cavs winger Jose Hernandez headed goalward, and Eddies goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa made the initial save, but the ball came back off the crossbar directly to the head of a well-placed Joe Mason for another header to make it 1-0.

The Eddies attempted to shake things up in the second half, as coach Alan Koch introduced regular started Tobias Warschewski and Shamit Shome to the mix at the interval, with Fraser Aird and Amer Didic entering around the hour mark as well. They did take control of the ball, beginning to press toward the Cavs’ box, but they might have left themselves a little exposed on the counter-attack.

Cavalry’s Elliot Simmons sprang the break in the 62nd minute, running on from the right wing and finding Ben Fisk at the top of the box. Fisk laid it off to the side for Mo Farsi, and Farsi — having drawn a defender — cut it right back to Fisk for a finish that deflected off an Edmonton player and into the net for a 2-0 scoreline.

Edmonton’s best chance of the game was near the 75th minute, as Easton Ongaro headed a corner kick goalward, but Cavalry midfielder Nik Ledgerwood was in perfect position at the near post to clear the chance from the goal line.

After scoring a second, Cavalry seemed more comfortable pressing forward, and the wind may have come out of the Eddies’ sails slightly as the away side looked in control for the final 15 minutes or so to see out a professional knockout round victory.

With the win, Cavalry will now pay close attention to the August 26 clash between Pacific FC and MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, since they’ll play the winner in the next round on their journey toward the Voyageurs Cup.

BOX SCORE

Goals

31′ — Joe Mason (Cavalry FC)
62′ — Ben Fisk (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

None