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Cavalry FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC: Cavs on brink of clinching CPL Finals berth

2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #32
Cavalry FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC
September 12, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. AT
UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI

Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca and CBC Sports


Cavalry FC will be looking to make it three wins in a row on Saturday when they take on HFX Wanderers FC at The Island Games.

Top of the table in the second round with three points, the Cavs earned a comfortable 3-1 win over Pacific FC last time out, a result that puts them in pole position to qualify for the CPL finals on Sept. 19.

The Wanderers are coming off a 1-1 draw with Forge FC and are tied with the CPL champs for second place, so a win on Saturday would give them more of an edge heading into their second-round finale next week.

HFX was one of Cavalry’s victims in the first round, dropping a 2-1 decision, as they were undone by a pair of individual efforts by Nathan Mavila and Jordan Brown.

While there is no scenario that would see HFX clinch or be eliminated on Saturday, Cavalry could secure a berth in the CPL Finals on Sept. 19 with a win.

To consult the CPL standings, CLICK HERE.

scenarios


RELATED READING: HFX sizing up midfield battle vs. Cavalry ahead of crucial fixture || Wheeldon Jr.: ‘Mindset, magic, and mistakes’ key to Cavalry-HFX tilt


3 THINGS TO WATCH

  • Marvelous Mo Farsi: The 20-year-old wingback continues to be one of the breakout stars of The Island Games. He won a penalty and then scored an insurance goal with a wicked finish against Pacific. Coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. was full of praise after the game, saying, “He can go as high as he wants to because he’s humble enough.” Look for the Montreal native to get forward down the wings as much as he can against HFX.
  • No Nico for Cavs: Nico Pasquotti left the Pacific game in the first half with a knee injury, forcing Wheeldon Jr. to change his tactics. Usually a right winger, Pasquotti dropped into the No. 10 role behind dual strikers Marcus Haber and Jordan Brown. Bruno Zebie came on for Pasquotti vs. the Tridents, so it’ll be interesting to see if Wheeldon calls upon Zebie again with Pasquotti ruled out for this match.
  • Cavs’ Elijah Adekugbe: HFX coach Stephen Hart believes Adekugbe could play a big role in Saturday’s game. “He’s the one that’s very good at pushing that ball forward, and then he also has the capacity to join. That’s something we looked at from the last game when we played them. It’s obviously one of their key components in trying to play out of the back,” Hart said.
(CPL/Chant Photography)
(CPL/Chant Photography)

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“We’re certainly sharpening our axe, aren’t we? We’re getting closer. It’s a war of attrition, I say that all the time. It’s about being the best version of ourselves in the current circumstances we’re in.” – Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr., after the Pacific match.

“Things don’t come back – the game’s over, the call was made and you can’t go back in time to play the game. At the end of the day I’m pleased.” – HFX coach Stephen Hart after the Forge match.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Cavalry wins: 5 || HFX wins: 0 || Draws 1

PREVIOUS MEETING

August 23, 2020: Cavalry FC 2, HFX Wanderers FC 1

A bizarre injury-time sequence of goals ended up not affecting the final outcome, as Cavalry limited a surging Wanderers side to few chances at goal over 90 minutes.

REFEREES

Referee: Mathieu Souare
ARs: Michael Hood & Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
4th Official: Filip Dujic

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