HIGHLIGHTS: Valour FC vs. Cavalry FC (August 11, 2023) | Presented By tonybet

Valour FC snapped a six-match winless streak during a breathtaking 3-2 comeback victory over Cavalry FC on Friday at IG Field in Winnipeg.

After trailing by two goals, scored by former Valour FC player William Akio early in both halves, Klaidi Cela, Diego Gutiérrez and Walter Ponce replied for the hosts in just over 20 second-half minutes.

It was the first time that the Winnipeg side have come from behind to win a match this season. It was also the first time this season they have scored three goals.

For the fourth straight match at IG Field, Valour conceded inside the opening ten minutes. It took just eight minutes for Akio, making his return to Winnipeg, to find the back of the net. A partially cleared corner found its way straight into the path of Jesse Daley, whose shanked effort fell to Akio who headed past Carducci and gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Akio remained an issue for Valour’s backline thereafter, as his speed and directness caused a number of half-chances. After such a composed finish in the eighth minute, however, his touch in the final third let him down on his other forays forward during the first half hour of the match.

Valour grew into the half as it wore on. They created a good chance in the 35th minute as a clever ball into the box from Andy Baquero fell to Pacifique Niyongabire. He shifted his man but got his shot wrong from a tight angle and it went harmlessly wide of Marco Carducci’s net.

The hosts had an even better chance in the 42nd minute as Ahinga Selemani squared the ball into the path of Cela in the box. The Valour defender’s effort, however, was well over the bar from close range. It was a close as they would come during the opening 45 minutes, as the Winnipeg side trailed 1-0 at the half.

Cavalry made a bit of surprise substitution to start the second half, bringing off leading goalscorer Bevan, who was on a yellow card, for Joe Mason.

Mason had a major impact within three minutes of his introduction, as low his cross was missed by Jordan Haynes and found Akio. The Cavalry winger shifted past Haynes and blasted home his second of the match, and third in the past two matches.

It looked like the visitors might run away with the match after that, but Valour quickly responded. A Gutiérrez corner was curled perfectly to the back post to Cela, who made a great run and jump and made good on his missed first-half effort with a thundering header to make the score 2-1.

Valour kept pressing, and nine minutes later found a breakthrough again. A rare mistake in his own box saw Daan Klomp bring down Andy Baquero and give away a penalty. Valour captain Gutiérrez stepped up and powered the ball past Carducci to even the score at 2-2.

Cavalry pushed looking to regain their lead, but Valour would not be denied on Friday night. Kian Williams cut in from the left and sent in a shot that forced a good save from Carducci. However, Ponce was on hand to tap home the rebound and send The Trench at IG Field into rapturous celebrations.

The visitors pressed looking to still get something for their efforts. They found the back of the net for a third time in stoppage time in what would have been a heartbreaking moment for Valour, but Bradley Kamdem’s effort was deemed to be offside.

The victory means that Valour are now just five points out of the playoff spots, albeit still trailing in the first tiebreaker which is wins — as this was just their fourth victory of the season. Cavalry, meanwhile, remains in second place and misses out on a chance to go top of the table.

BOX SCORE

Goals

8′ — William Akio (Cavalry FC)
48′ — William Akio (Cavalry FC)
51′ — Klaidi Cela (Valour FC)
60′ — Diego Gutiérrez (Valour FC)
72′ — Walter Ponce (Valour FC) 

Discipline

13′ — Myer Bevan (Cavalry FC)
53′ — Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)
77′ — Bradley Kamdem (Cavalry FC)
89′ — Diego Gutiérrez (Valour FC)