Cavalry FC and York United played to a thrilling 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon at ATCO Field.

The hosts opened the scoring on a 24th-minute penalty from Tobias Warschewski. York, however, responded well with a pair of goals from Austin Ricci and Brian Wright in the 62nd and 68th minute respectively allowing them to take the lead, before Cavalry’s Malcolm Shaw equalized in the 72nd.

The teams both entered the pitch sporting black armbands to honour and remember the life of Armando Eustáquio, father of York United assistant coach, and former Cavalry FC player, Mauro Eustáquio.

The first half chance of the game came just two minutes in for York as Austin Ricci sent a ball in from the right that found its way outside the box to Orlando Botello but his effort flew well above the goal into the Cavalry supporters section.

Just five minutes later, after a Tobias Warschewski free kick deflected out for a Cavalry corner, Malcolm Shaw connected well with the ensuing cross but straight into Thomas Vincensini’s hands.

Cavalry continued to work their way into the game from there and saw their efforts pay off in the 23rd minute. A Fraser Aird cross from the right flank looked as though it was about to be met at the edge of the six-yard box by Sergio Camargo before Max Ferrari pulled him down and the ref awarded Cavalry a penalty.

Tobias Warschewski stepped up and blasted it straight into the top left corner – leaving the French goalkeeper no chance – giving his side a one-goal lead just 24 minutes in.

After a bright opening ten minutes or so for York United, Cavalry grew into the game and took a deserved 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

Despite a head clash that saw Frank Sturing momentarily leave the pitch, York started the second half brightly spending most of the first eight minutes in Cavalry’s half.

York had their best chance since the opening minutes come in the 57′ minute as a searching ball from York’s right wing was guided out for a corner by Aird who had Wright draped all over him.

After they continued to gain momentum, York’s moment finally came.

Josué Martinez won the ball in Cavalry’s half and played it into the feet of Austin Ricci. The York attacker played a one-two with his attack partner Wright before striking the ball into the bottom right corner past Carducci and tied the game at 1-1.

The 28-year-old wasn’t done there as just four minutes later, a rocket of a hit from Ricci sprung off Carducci’s left post as he narrowly missed out on giving his side the lead.

Instead, it was Brian Wright who gave York the lead just two minutes later. An errand pass in Cavalry’s backline was grasped onto by Wright who then dispatched the ball past Carducci and just like that York had the lead.

What had been a truly wild second half to this point was not done there. After winning yet another corner, Fraser Aird’s fine deliveries were finally capitalized on by Malcolm Shaw who sent a glancing header into the bottom right corner to tie the match at two.

In debatably the greatest half of soccer so far this season, Shaw’s goal won his side the momentum once again. In the same sixty seconds, a Daan Klomp header came back off the post and a left-footed strike from Shaw was again met by Vincensini with a spectacular save down to his left to keep the game tied.

Back down the other end, a low-driven cross from Brian Wright found Kadin Martin-Pereux but his strike went straight into the Cavalry goalkeeper’s hands with less than five minutes of regular time remaining.

The final minutes of the hectic match saw both teams mount minor attacks to no avail as the match ended square.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Klomp, Montgomery, Kamdem; Shome (Gutiérrez 78′), Trafford (Daley 78′), Camargo (Akio 45′); Warschewski (Brooks 69′), Shaw, Dias (Myroniuk 69′) 

York United: Vincensini; Ferrari, Abatneh, Sturing, Botello; Baldisimo, Ricci (Esprit 92′), Martinez (Adekugbe 81′), Soumaoro, Salanović (Martin-Pereux 78′); Wright

Goals

24′ – Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC) (Penalty)
62′ – Austin Ricci (York United)
68′ – Brian Wright (York United)
72′ – Malcolm Shaw (Cavalry FC) 

Discipline

23′ – Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
40′ – Yellow: Austin Ricci (York United)
45′ – Yellow: Lucas Dias (Cavalry FC)
77′ – Yellow: Niko Myroniuk (Cavalry FC)
79′ – Yellow: Orlando Botello (York United)