Cavalry FC and Pacific FC played out the first scoreless match of the 2024 CPL season at ATCO Field on Sunday, drawing 0-0 in the Cavs’ home opener.

With both teams looking for the first goal early on, Reon Moore and Tobias Warschewski fired shots at the opposing goalkeepers in the first five minutes, but neither striker was able to hit the target. Cavalry had a second opportunity a few minutes later, as William Akio got onto the end of a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but he couldn’t steer his shot on target from close range.

Sergio Camargo didn’t miss by much after getting his head onto a corner into the box from Ali Musse, but he was unable to recreate the goal he scored on the opening day of the season at Tim Hortons Field. Daan Klomp got onto the end of a free kick into the box as well, but he too couldn’t redirect the ball on target as the hosts strung together several set pieces.

Thomas Meilleur-Giguère and Josh Heard made a pair of crucial blocks as the Cavs sustained their high pressure on the Tridents, but the visitors were able to keep hanging on. Sean Melvin also did well in the 41st minute to come off his line and snatch the ball off Camargo’s foot as he closed in on goal.

Despite taking ten of the twelve shots in the first half, Cavalry were unable to find their breakthrough, and the two sides entered the break scoreless.

The Cavs wasted no time looking for another scoring opportunity at the start of the second half, with Klomp heading a cross into the box from Musse wide of the mark, before William Akio sent a shot high and wide — both within the first four minutes of play resuming.

The first shot on target of the match finally came in the 67th minute from Lleyton Brooks, who tested Melvin with a dipping shot from distance just three minutes after coming off the bench. Brooks, like his Pacific FC counterpart Ayman Sellouf, made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, sparking some new life into his side.

Moore got in behind the Cavalry backline in the 79th minute, charging onto a pass between the lines and running toward Marco Carducci’s net, but Tom Field was able to get back and force Moore to rush his shot, which he fired high over the bar. Pacific started to build a bit of attacking momentum that they lacked for much of Sunday afternoon’s contest, but the defenders in the red Cavalry kits held strong.

Marco Carducci was called into action for the first time in the 86th minute, diving to his left to deny a rocket of a low shot from Sellouf that seemed destined for the back of the net. Eric Lajeunesse came close moments later as he head the ball toward goal from close range, but he couldn’t keep his attempt down and it ended up landing on the top of the net.

Cavalry went the other way and immediately put the ball into the back of the Pacific goal, but Lucas Dias was denied his first tally for the club after being caught offside.

Moore had one last opportunity to score for Pacific in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but Carducci came out of his net to make another huge, game-saving stop to keep the game scoreless. Melvin made one more stop on the last kick of the game moments later, denying a final attempt from Lleyton Brooks.

That’s the closest anyone came to scoring on the day, and the match would end 0-0 as the clock ticked away toward the final whistle.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Shome, Klomp, Kamdem; Aird, Gutierrez (Trafford 73′), Camargo (Dias 73′), Field; Musse, Warschewski (Shaw 64′), Akio (Brooks 64′)

Pacific FC: Melvin; Dada-Luke, Meilleur-Giguère, Ndom, Lajeunesse; Yeates, Toussaint, Young (Bahous 73′); Zanatta (Lamothe 85′), Moore, Heard (Sellouf 69′)

Goals

n/a

Discipline

63′ — Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)

85′ — Yellow: Cedric Toussaint (Pacific FC)