The Halifax Wanderers are the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention in the 2024 CPL season after a 2-1 loss to Cavalry FC at ATCO Field on Saturday.

Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Wanderers went toe-to-toe with the hosts in a thrilling attacking contest, but were ultimately undone by goals from Callum Montgomery and Tobias Warschewski. Their lone goal came from Giorgio Probo early in the second half.

The win, meanwhile, moves Cavalry up into second place, two points ahead of Atlético Ottawa. A victory, or any dropped points from the capital club on the final day of the season means that Cavalry will finish this year in that position.

Halifax wasted no time in creating a chance, as some lovely play down the left flank saw Tiago Coimbra flick the ball into the path of Probo just inside the box. The Italian, however, sent his shot just over Marco Carducci’s net 28 seconds into the match.

In the third minute, Cavalry came within inches of opening the scoring, as Warschewski broke in behind and played a ball across the box. Sergio Camargo, however, somehow tapped the ball wide of a gapping Halifax net.

Massimo Ferrin then forced a pair of saves from Carducci, first on a near-post strike on a great cross by Clément Bayiha, before testing him again on a header in the 17th minute. Halifax kept pressing as the half wore on, and Probo forced another stop from Carducci after finding a pocket of space at the top of the box in the 34th minute.

Cavalry were dealt a really tough blow in the 40th minute when Tom Field pulled up and had to be replaced by Bradley Kamdem due to injury.

Despite plenty of chances at both ends, the match remained 0-0 at the half.

Two minutes into the second half, Cavalry broke that deadlock. After Lorenzo Callegari was dispossessed in midfield, the ball fell into the path of Warschewski, who sent a bouncing strike from outside the box just inside the post and behind Yann Fillion to make the score 1-0. It was the German attacker’s 10th goal of the campaign, moving him up to second in the league in scoring, behind only Atlético Ottawa’s Rubén del Campo.

Just five minutes later, however, Halifax found an equalizer. Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé picked off a pass from Marco Carducci, which he then played into the path of Probo. This time it was the Halifax midfielder who sent a low shot from outside the box just inside the post to make it 1-1.

Needing a win to keep their season alive, Halifax continued to push. They came close again through a bouncing ball in the Cavalry box in the 65th minute, but Coimbra couldn’t get the decisive touch to take it past Carducci.

Moments later, Ali Musse had an excellent chance of his own as Warschewski played him in with a lovely ball in behind, but Fillion saved his shot. Then it was Daan Klomp, who couldn’t steer a second-phase ball across goal from Camargo in the 66th minute. Musse had another incredible opportunity in the 73rd minute, as he chipped Fillion from close range but could not keep his effort on target.

Cavalry, however, would not be denied in front of a fantastic atmosphere at ATCO Field. In the 79th minute, a whipped-in corner kick from Musse was directed by Kamdem off of Montgomery and into the back of the net to give the Cavs a 2-1 lead. It was the Cavalry defender’s first CPL goal — and one that could prove quite significant in his side’s season.

Minutes later, Ali Musse, who could not buy a goal on Saturday night, hit the post on another excellent chance.

The goal ultimately seemed to break the Wanderers’ resolve, knowing that they needed two goals in the closing minutes to keep their postseason hopes alive. The visitors had a few more chances, largely through substitute Sean Rea, but both of his attempts were blocked.

They will remain in eighth position to conclude the penultimate week of the CPL season.

Cavalry, meanwhile, will head to Winnipeg next weekend for a big clash with Valour FC as part of The Outcome, where all four of the league’s final weekend fixtures will be played concurrently on Saturday, October 19 at 4:00 p.m. ET on the OneSoccer Youtube channel.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird (Kobza 79′), Montgomery, Klomp, Field (Kamdem 41′); Gutiérrez, Shome (Trafford 72′); Musse, Camargo, Herdman (Wright 72′); Warschewski 

Halifax Wanderers: Fillion; Dias (Timoteo 84′), Mekidèche, Alphonse, Nimick, Bayiha (Vasconcelos 83′); Callegari, Gagnon-Laparé (Daniels 67′), Probo; Ferrin, Coimbra (Rea 76′) 

Goals

48′ — Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
54′ — Giorgio Probo (Halifax Wanderers)
79′ — Callum Montgomery (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

37′ — Yellow: Fraser Aird (Cavalry FC)
45′ — Yellow: Shamit Shome (Cavalry FC)
58′ — Yellow: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (Halifax Wanderers)
77′ — Yellow: Nassim Mekidèche (Halifax Wanderers)