RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Valour FC vs. Cavalry FC | July 29, 2025

For the first time in 359 days, Valour FC won back-to-back games, defeating Cavalry FC 2-1 on Tuesday evening in Winnipeg.

A pair of goals created by corners were the difference, with Myles Morgan and Zach Fernandez both heading home outstanding deliveries by Themi Antonoglou. Diego Gutiérrez replied with the lone goal for Cavalry.

In his first start for Cavalry FC, Ayman Sellouf looked dangerous instantly, forcing a good save from Jonathan Viscosi less than a minute into the match with a curling strike from just inside the box.

After some threatening early attacks from the visitors, Valour started to settle and create problems with their aggressive high press. Once they won the ball back, they did well to be patient and create a few chances through some well-constructed ball movement.

In the 23rd minute, Kris Twardek created a great chance with an outstanding run down the right flank, beating his man with a clever dummy before sending a low cross into Bruno Figueiredo, whose shot unfortunately hit Kianz Froese in the centre, or it would have been goal-bound.

Valour won a corner kick shortly thereafter, however, and used it to open the scoring. An outstanding curled ball from Antonoglou found the head of Zach Fernandez, who leapt highest and placed a header past Marco Carducci to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Sellouf continued to be the most dangerous Cavalry player, and nearly broke in again in the 37th minute down the left flank, forcing Viscosi to come out of the net and deny him. Moments later, Sergio Camargo had a half chance in the box but sent his effort high.

Valour were able to hold off any other chances, and went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

Camargo and Tobias Warschewski nearly created a dangerous chance early in the second half, as they played a one-two into the box, but Camargo couldn't quite get on the end of the German's cut back running into the six-yard box.

In the 55th minute, Valour created set-piece magic again. Another quality ball into the box from Antonoglou this time found Morgan whose powerful header gave the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Less than five minutes later, however, Cavalry responded. Camargo found Tobias Warschewski in the box, who picked out Gutiérrez. The former Valour midfielder's low strike was perfectly placed into the corner to cut the lead to 2-1.

Immediately following the goal, Cavalry made a triple substitution, bringing on Jay Herdman, Goteh Ntignee and Mihail Gherasimencov.

Cavalry had an outstanding chance to equalize in the 68th minute, as Nicolas Wähling found Camargo at the back post. But from incredibly close range, the Cavalry midfielder somehow lifted it wide of the net.

Desperate for an equalizer in the late going, Cavalry elected to bring Callum Montgomery, usually a central defender, in as a forward to have another option in the box.

After holding their lead when the 90 minutes expired, Valour were forced to defend for a further seven minutes of stoppage time.

For a second straight game, frustration boiled over for Cavalry late in the game after a foul on Ntignee, who was sent off following the resulting melee. Eleias Himaras, meanwhile, was sent off from the bench for Valour.

With the victory, Valour move up into sixth place in the table, and narrow the gap with the fifth and final playoff position to 10 points.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Valour FC: Viscosi; Fernandez, Facchineri, Egwu, Antonoglou (Alarcón 73'); Mlah, Ohin; Twardek (Voytsekhovskyy 90+6'), Figueiredo (Venâncio 72'), Morgan (Romeo 89'); Froese (Pop 89')

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Field (Gherasimencov 61') Kobza, Laing, Aird (Ntignee 61'); Piepgrass (Montgomery 83'), Gutiérrez; Wähling, Camargo (Henry 75'), Sellouf (Herdman 61'); Warschewski

Goals

24' -- Zachary Fernandez (Valour FC)
56' -- Myles Morgan (Valour FC)
60' -- Diego Gutiérrez (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

70' — Yellow: Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
86' -- Yellow: Raphael Ohin (Valour FC)
90+6' -- Yellow: Erik Pop (Valour FC)
90+7' -- Yellow: Xavier Venâncio (Valour FC)
90+8 -- Yellow: Gianfranco Facchineri (Valour FC)
90+8' -- Yellow+Red: Goteh Ntignee (Cavalry FC)
90+10: Red: Eleias Himaras (Valour FC)