Cavalry FC picked up a big three points on Saturday afternoon, as they beat York United 2-1 at ATCO Field on a late free kick from Ali Musse.
York attacker Brian Wright was busy early on, getting a pair of shots away in the first few minutes of the match. His first one about 90 seconds in was saved by Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci, but his second shot just over a minute later missed the target entirely. Wright missed the target again in the 18th minute, as he continued to chase his first goal of the season after making the move from Atlético Ottawa in the offseason.
Clément Bayiha, who scored the only goal in the first meeting between these sides this season, also had a chance to give the Nine Stripes the lead, receiving the ball from Mo Babouli at the edge of the penalty area late in the first half, but was unable to keep his shot down. Of the six shots York took in the first half, just Wright’s one in the second minute tested Marco Carducci.
The home side had six shots in the first half as well, with the two best chances coming off the foot of Ali Musse. The Cavalry attacker hit the target with a powerful shot from outside the box with his left foot that Niko Giantsopoulos was able to turn away, before later testing the York goalkeeper again with a free kick in stoppage time.
Myer Bevan hit the target as well in the first half, but neither side could find an opener in the first 45 minutes.
Immediately after the break, however, both teams found the back of the net in quick succession.
Six minutes after play resumed, Goteh Ntignee scored his first Canadian Premier League goal, firing a shot into the bottom left corner of the net. Gareth Smith-Doyle ran onto a pass down the right flank from Fraser Aird before playing a low cross into the penalty area, which was met by Ntignee and smashed into the back of the net.
🚨GOAL @CPLCavalryFC!🐎
Cavalry are off to a flying start in this 2nd half vs York United, as Gareth Smith-Doyle finds Goteh Ntignee for his 1st-ever #CanPL goal!
Just look at what it means to him😤
🔴https://t.co/7JFAUhgRAE pic.twitter.com/870G5zHEax
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 24, 2023
A few minutes after Cavalry’s goal, and after picking up a yellow card in the moments that followed the opener from Ntignee, Mo Babouli tied things up at 1-1. After Wright laid the ball off to him, Babouli unleashed a powerful shot into the top left corner from outside the penalty area that Carducci couldn’t get to.
🚨GOAL @yorkutdfc🟢
It's #CanPL Bangers Only, as Mo Babouli finds the top corner with a powerful strike to make it 1-1 vs Cavalry🔥
We've got a good one brewing here in Calgary☁️
🔴https://t.co/7JFAUhgRAE pic.twitter.com/b0d2BcH8pi
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 24, 2023
If two great goals weren’t enough for the fans at ATCO Field, Ali Musse won the match for the home side in the 83rd minute from a direct free kick. After Ntignee made a brilliant run up the pitch, straight at the York backline, Roger Thompson fouled him at the edge of the penalty area.
Musse stepped up to take it, as he so often does, and made no mistake — curling a free kick into the top right corner, with the ball kissing the bottom of the crossbar on the way in.
🚨GOAL @CPLCavalryFC🐎#CanPL. BANGERS. ONLY
What a free kick from Ali Musse to grab a 2-1 lead LATE over York
And don't forget the run from Goteh Ntignee to win this free kick, too 💨
🔴https://t.co/7JFAUhgRAE pic.twitter.com/QlqIPXjPZ8
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 24, 2023
York pushed late for a second equalizer, but the Cavalry backline held strong to hold onto the 2-1 lead, and a big three points on their home turf.
BOX SCORE
Goals
51′ — Goteh Ntignee (Cavalry FC)
57′ — Mo Babouli (York United)
83′ — Ali Musse (Cavalry FC)
Discipline
20′ — Yellow: Goteh Ntignee (Cavalry FC)
34′ — Yellow: Fraser Aird (Cavalry FC)
50′ — Yellow: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (York United)
54′ — Yellow: Mo Babouli (York United)
81′ — Yellow: Roger Thompson (York United)
86′ — Yellow: Joe Mason (Cavalry FC)