A championship rematch five years in the making is officially on the docket.
Cavalry FC earned its spot in the Canadian Premier League Playoff Final versus Forge FC with a gritty 2-1 result in the semifinal on Saturday afternoon at Spruce Meadows over a Pacific FC squad riding a wave of post-season momentum.
"They're a terrific side and it's one of those where we keep writing new history," said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. "That's what we've done tonight, we've buried a ghost of the past. It is around Halloween time so there's another ghost to be buried and what better way to do it than to go to Tim Hortons Field?
"They've won three out of four playoff trophies, why not go win it in their house? And we believe that we can."
The visitors entered the elimination contest on the heels of two playoff wins in a four-day period over York United at home and on the road at the Halifax Wanderers.
For the Cavalry, it was a case of needing to rebound from its 2-1 defeat to Forge one week prior.
And rebound they would.
On Saturday, the hosts carried the play in the early going with William Akio providing a ton of energy on the left.
Sergio Camargo got the best early opportunity on a half volley on the second phase of a free kick which was well denied by Pacific FC goalkeeper Emil Gazdov. Eryk Kobza had his header on the ensuing corner sail just over the crossbar.
The pressure paid from set pieces in the 27th minute.
The Cavalry’s two finalists for CPL Player of the Year linked up with Ali Musse feathering in a free kick from the right flank for centre back Daan Klomp to connect with his trademark powerful header.
In the 62nd minute, Musse went from provider to talisman.
A well-worked corner kick from Fraser Aird saw the winger sneak into open space for a left-footed strike which deflected off a Pacific defender and into the back of the net.
"I'm fortunate to have a really good coaching staff around me, on those attacking set plays, that Leon Hapgood, Daniel Hutchins take care of," added Wheeldon Jr. "Musse's delivery has been brilliant this year, the guys know their roles, Daan Klomp's a threat, Charlie (Trafford), Kobza, (Callum Montgomery) coming in .
"That was a well-worked one and we knew that if we kept putting them in there we had a high volume and something was going to click, the second one with Fraser Aird, that was the tactical difference and ends up winning us the game. Credit to our staff and credit to our players."
Needing to strike back, the visitors got on the board within five minutes.
Experienced winger Kekuta Manneh found room on the left, cut inside and fired a shot off the post and in to get Pacific within one.
In stoppage time, a number of equalizing opportunities presented themselves with Carducci coming up clutch to deny Adonijah Reid on the backdoor with a reactive leg save.
"We need to improve, we need to learn, we need to grow,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “We were top-two in this league for 24 of 28 weeks, so fine margins. We took the long route in the playoffs, but we showed our spirit to deal with some adversity in the first two matches.
"Cavalry has had an excellent season, they've been the most consistent team, especially towards the end, they had good confidence and a great fan-base here. It's not an easy place to come to play and it's been difficult for us this season."
Forge FC, three-time CPL champions, defeated the Cavalry in the first playoff final in league history in 2019 at Spruce Meadows.
Cavalry FC, the regular season champions, will be looking to become the first team to win the double as league and playoff titleholders in the same season.
"We're enjoying this writing new history," Wheeldon Jr. said. "No team has ever won the double, so why not us?"
The CPL Playoff Final is Oct. 28, a 4 p.m. MST kickoff at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field.
For more information, visit cavsfc.com.
