Cavalry FC earned another point at ATCO Field on Sunday afternoon, as they fought out a 0-0 draw with HFX Wanderers FC to take sole possession of second place in the CPL.

The Cavs, led by assistant coach Martin Nash on Sunday due to Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s suspension, made five changes to the side that beat York United midweek, with young Nicolas Apostol making his first start for the club at right fullback and Tyson Farago getting the nod in goal for just the fourth time this season. HFX, meanwhile, deployed a similarly rotated squad, despite having not played since Monday; coach Stephen Hart made four changes to his previous lineup, and star scorer Joao Morelli remained out of the lineup with an injury.

The game had a rapid tempo from kickoff, with both sides getting up and down the pitch quickly. Cavalry had the best chance of the opening half, as Ben Fisk found space at the top of the box on a counter-attack. He managed to chip the ball over Wanderers keeper Kieran Baskett, but defender Peter Schaale got back just in time to clear the attempt off the goal line. Ultimately, though, neither side was quite able to find the opposing net in the opening frame.

Coming out of halftime, the Cavs looked the more likely team to score as they took control of the ball after losing the possession battle in the first half. Just before the 60-minute mark, acting coach Nash opted to bring in some dangerous reinforcements, as he sent pacey wingback Mo Farsi and lethal striker Joe Mason into the fray in place of Apostol and Anthony Novak. HFX boss Hart countered with an attacking change of his own, as he put Stefan Karajovanovic in for Alessandro Riggi to try and spark his side’s attack. Not long after, Sergio Camargo came in for the Cavs as well as they went all-out in search of a goal.

Yet again, it was the Cavs with the more dangerous chances; just after the 70th minute, a well-worked move down the right side brought Camargo face-to-face with the goalkeeper at point-blank range, but the forward attempted to make an extra pass and the Wanderers cleared the ball to safety. Not long after, Fisk received a cutback pass from Mason just outside the six-yard box but he wasn’t able to put the ball on frame despite the wide-open net in front of him.

Cavalry continued to throw chance after chance at the Wanderers, but their finishing continued to let them down as they just couldn’t find the back of the net. They got one last chance in the final minute of stoppage time, when a handball in the penalty area gave them a penalty kick, but Baskett made an unbelievable save on Mason’s attempt to keep it at 0-0.

So, HFX held on to take a valuable point away from home, giving them a one-point cushion in the fourth and final playoff spot. The Cavs moved up into second place with the result, although a win would have put them back atop the table.

BOX SCORE

Goals

None

Discipline

26′ — Yellow: Alessandro Riggi (HFX Wanderers FC)
46′ — Yellow: Eriks Santos (HFX Wanderers FC)
73′ — Yellow: Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)