HIGHLIGHTS: Cavalry FC vs. York United | CPL PLAYOFFS | Oct. 26, 2025

Cavalry FC's North Star Cup defence is alive and well after a dominant 4-1 victory over York United at ATCO Field in the 2025 CPL Playoff semifinal qualifier.

It was an electrifying attacking display for the Calgary club, who scored the most goals in a CPL knockout match in league history, led by a brace from Tobias Warschewski.

A familiar foe now stands in their way in the contender semifinal, as Cavalry travel to Hamilton next Sunday, to face Forge FC -- who they defeated in the 2024 CPL Final.

For just the second time this year, Cavalry deployed a starting eleven featuring both Warschewski and Caniggia Elva together in attack on Sunday. Tom Field, meanwhile, came in to partner Daan Klomp at left central defender.

Despite playing a marathon match in Halifax midweek, Mauro Eustáquio made just one change to his starting eleven with Massimo Ferrin replacing Adonijah Reid in the front three.

Cavalry wasted no time igniting the ATCO Field crowd. In the eighth minute, Ali Musse cut in from the right wing and unleashed a curling strike that took a deflection which wrong-footed York goalkeeper Diego Urtiaga to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

With the stable gates open, the Cavalry charge continued. Just nine minutes later, after Eryk Kobza and Shamit Shome combined brilliantly to force a turnover in the final third, and the ball into the path of Caniggia Elva. The Saint Lucian international calmly rolled a pass into the path of Warschewski, who toe-poked the ball past Urtiaga to make it 2-0 for Cavalry.

The Nine Stripes quickly tried to rein in the Calgary club, forcing a couple of awkward clearances from Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci with dangerous deliveries into the box. But for most of the half, the hosts were able to remain in possession.

In the 36th minute, Cavalry had a solid chance to make it a third as the ball fell to Mihail Gherasimecov at the top of the box -- where he has been lethal this year. The young left-back rushed his strike, however, and sliced it just wide of target.

If there is one thing that York have proven this season, however, it is that they won't go down without a fight. In the 44th minute, they struck back. Riley Ferrazzo curled a lovely ball through the Cavalry lines into the path of Shaan Hundal, who deftly chipped it over Carducci and into the net to cut Cavalry's lead to 2-1.

Cavalry thought they had regained their two-goal cushion on the last kick of the half, as Musse ghosted in on the back post and tapped in a free-kick. The goal was called back for offside, however, as Eryk Kobza had come from an offside position to disrupt Urtiaga.

After an energetic first 45 minutes, the sides retreated to their respective rooms with the score 2-1 for Cavalry.

If the end of the first half allowed York United to dream, the second half started with a nightmare. Just two minutes in, Goteh Ntignee broke down the left wing to the byline and cut the ball back, which York defender Luke Singh inadvertently redirected into his own net.

With York pressing to get back in the match, Cavalry continued to do what they do best: creating goals in transition. In the 58th minute, a big tackle from Mihail Gherasimencov turned the ball over and allowed Ntignee to break down the left. He found Elva in the middle, who in turn moved the ball to Warschewski. The German took a touch to get the ball out of his feet, and then from outside the box sent a low strike that nestled into the bottom corner and made extended Cavalry's lead to 4-1.

Again, however, York stayed in the fight, and almost replied immediately as a cross deflected awkwardly into the box and forced Carducci to awkwardly palm it away. The rebound fell to Hundal, but his attempt was blocked by Tom Field just in front of the net. Knowing they needed fresh legs and a spark, York brought on Gabriel Bitar and Luca Accettolla in the 59th minute.

Galloping free, now, however, Cavalry kept coming. It was all Urtiaga could do to keep them from adding a fifth, as he first robbed Ntignee on a header, before a diving low save on Shamit Shome.

Ali Musse came close to adding a second in the 80th minute, after Ntignee played him through with a clever flick. But put his low shot into the side of the net instead of squaring to an open Ayman Sellouf, who had just checked into the match.

For York United, after a magical night in Halifax, that spell broke in Calgary on Sunday, and they couldn't overcome tired legs and an energized host whose dream of a second-straight North Star Cup is alive and well.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird (Laing 79'), Klomp, Field, Gherasimencov; Shome, Kobza; Musse (Myroniuk 83'), Warschewski (Sellouf 79'), Ntignee (Wähling 83'); Elva (Baldisimo 67')

York United: Urtiaga; Singh, Adekugbe (Bitar 61'), Sturing; Ferrari (Reid 67'), Yeates (Costa 84'), Kibato (Accettola 61'), Ferrazzo; Altobelli, Hundal, Ferrin

Goals

8' — Ali Musse (Cavalry FC)
17' -- Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
44' -- Shaan Hundal (York United)
47' -- Luke Singh (York United) (Own Goal)
58' -- Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

38' — Yellow: Kembo Kibato (York United)
43' -- Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
85'-- Yellow: Jessé Costa (York United)
89' -- Yellow: Julian Altobelli (York United)