Match #27
VALOUR FC (6-8-12) at CAVALRY FC (14-7-5)When: Friday, September 29th, 8 p.m. CDTWhere: Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Ab.How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all Canadian Premier League games live https://onesoccer.ca/MATCH PREVIEW:Odd circumstances leading into this one with Valour having already been eliminated from the playoff picture and Cavalry having locked up top spot in the CPL standings with two matches yet to play.Valour was in full ‘spoiler’ mode last Sunday, knocking off Atletico Ottawa 1-nil with an extra-time goal by Walter Ponce. That victory was Valour’s second straight on the road following a 3-1 decision over York United FC on September 8th. This is the second-last match of the season, with HFX Wanderers in town for the finale on Friday, October 6th.Cavalry, FYI, is a league best 8-3-1 at home for 27 points with a +10 goal differential.THE OTHER GUYS:3 Facts about Cavalry FC:-Cool stat from the good folks at canpl.ca – Cavalry has scored first in 21 of their 26 matches this season. And over the last 16 matches the club has conceded just two first-half goals.-Cavalry leads the CPL with 41 goals, with Myer Bevan leading the squad with 10 – one back of Ollie Bassett of Ottawa and the league lead. Former Valour winger Willy Akio has five goals in eight matches while Ali Musse – another former Valour player – has five goals in 23 appearances.-GK Marco Carducci has played every minute for Cavalry this year and has posted seven clean sheets, tied for second in the CPL with Valour’s Rayane Yesli – two back of Hamilton’s Triston Henry.
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:#9: Walter Ponce, FW: Played the hero in the win in Ottawa, coming off the bench and then taking a feed from Kian Williams for the winning goal in extra time. Ponce can be dominant in moments and then disappear for stretches, but when he’s on, he does generate chances. He has three goals an assist in 20 matches this year and for a team starving for goals, needs more consistency from the Chilean winger/forward.
CRITICAL NUMBER5It’s no secret that Valour has struggled to score this season, but they have had some success recently on the road. Since a 3-nil loss to HFX in Nova Scotia in late August the club has posted a 2-0-1 record away from home and scored five goals in the process – falling 2-1 to Pacific FC, knocking off York United 3-1 and then Ottawa last Sunday 1-nil.All-Time: Valour FC vs. Cavalry FCOverall: (win-draw-loss): 3-4-9Last meeting: August 11 at IG Field, Winnipeg: Valour FC 3 Cavalry FC 2