HIGHLIGHTS: Cavalry FC vs. Valour FC (April 30, 2023)

Cavalry FC returned to ATCO Field for the first time in 2023 on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Valour FC after Myer Bevan and Kian Williams traded goals on either side of halftime.

Frustratingly for the visitors, Valour were forced into an early substitution in just the sixteenth minute, as centre-back Guillaume Pianelli went down clutching his leg. The Frenchman would leave the pitch moments later, replaced by Jared Ulloa.

On a more positive note, after a slow start from both teams, the visitors nearly took the lead in the 36th minute with the best chance up to that point. Diego Gutierrez, who was the CPL Player of the Week this past week, and is in great form to begin 2023, fired a free kick from the edge of the penalty area, just missing the top right corner of Marco Carducci’s goal.

Minutes later, however, Myer Bevan gave the home side the lead with the match’s first shot on target, continuing a very strong start to the season for the New Zealand international. Ali Musse chased down a quick throw in from Fraser Aird, who launched the ball over the head of a pair of Valour players. Musse charged toward the goal line before playing a low pass across the penalty area, which was redirected home by Bevan.

It didn’t take Valour long after play resumed for the second half before they found an equalizer. Kian Williams scored his first goal of the season, smashing a shot into the roof of the net from close range. Andy Baquero curled a cross into the box, which Williams did well to stick out his foot and get a touch on, redirecting it to teammate Anthony Novak.

Novak took a shot, which deflected into the path of Williams, who took a touch and fired it over Marco Carducci into the top of the goal.

That proved to be a spark for both teams, as Cavalry looked to regain the lead at home and Valour looked to add a second and take the lead.

Mikaël Cantave, Novak, Pacifique Niyongabire, and Sergio Camargo traded shots for the two sides, but none of them were able to find the back of the net. Cavalry also thought they had won a penalty in the 83rd minute as Ali Musse was seemingly fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Gutierrez, but the referee waved away the protests and declared it a goal kick.

Musse challenged Yesli again with a late free kick out wide, but the tall Valour netminder was able to get above everyone to make a relatively simple catch. Musse had another chance to win the three points for the home side a couple of minutes later, but Yesli again denied the Cavalry attacker with a big stop on what was a powerful shot.

Valour weren’t satisfied with a draw on the road either. Former Cavalry striker Anthony Novak fired a shot away in stoppage time, but it was blocked by an opponent as the match remained deadlocked. Nothing came of the ensuing corner, but Valour again attacked Cavalry’s backline moments later, to the same result.

Myer Bevan, with the last touch of the game, aimed a shot at the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but it sailed inches wide of the post. The match would end 1-1 despite the late back-and-forth chances.

Both teams remain unbeaten this season, with Valour FC staying at the top of the table for the time being with a 1-2-0 record. Cavalry, meanwhile, have drawn a third consecutive match to begin the season.

BOX SCORE

Goals

38′ — Myer Bevan (Cavalry FC)
56′ — Kian Williams (Valour FC)

Discipline

30′ — Yellow: Pacifique Niyongabire (Valour FC)
41′ — Yellow: Jesse Daley (Cavalry FC)
81′ — Yellow: Dante Campbell (Valour FC)