Four goals in 14 minutes all of the set piece variety.
It was a blink and you miss it thriller under the Friday Night Lights with Cavalry FC and Valour FC playing to a 2-2 draw as the Spruce Meadows side extended its unbeaten run to seven games in the Canadian Premier League.
“There’s three ways to score in a game,” said Cavalry head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “You can in positional play where you’re scoring against a block, working on patterns and creating some good chances, you can score in an attack in transition, or you can score in an attacking set play — but so can the other team.
“We were so good at carving them open with the opportunities we created that we didn’t do the basics of the defending our set plays. We’re disappointed in that, but it’s a good reminder as we get into the run in that we’ve got to have all facets covered.”
Following a cagey opening 45 minutes, a 14-minute outburst saw both teams fill the net twice via the set piece.
Cavalry left back Bradley Kamdem opened the scoring, the hometown defender’s first goal with the club, on a well-worked free kick with quick passing leading to a rebound opportunity in front of goal.
“It’s definitely bittersweet because you want to score, but the most important thing is that you want to win so that’s the disappointing thing,” Kamdem said.
“But scoring in my hometown in front of my family and loved ones was an unbelievable feeling.”
It was very nearly a double dose of first goals for Cavalry players within a five-minute span.
Diego Gutierrez, a multi-faceted central midfield talent, fired in a volley from an Ali Musse corner with the powerful shot hitting the post and bouncing off Valour goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi for what was ruled an own goal.
The goal parade continued with Valour evening the score with two goals off clean headers on corners four minutes apart through Raphael Ohin and Abdul Binate.
“It was disappointing because I think we started great, we were controlling most of the game,” said Kamdem. “We were giving up nothing and we had a bit of a drop off, then one corner kick and the second one which we’re all disappointed and it shouldn’t have happened.
“I think we’re already looking forward to next week.”
HIGHLIGHTS: @CPLCavalryFC vs. @ValourFootball 📽️
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 31, 2024
Cavalry and Valour pick up a point each after a chaotic second half 🔥#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/rLERZdKvpo
Cavalry closes August with 13 points out of a maximum of 15 gained, a major reason the team sits second in the CPL standings following an inconsistent start to the campaign.
Next month kicks off on Sept. 7 with a road date at top of the table Forge FC. Cavalry FC is next at home on Sept. 15 against Atlético Ottawa.
Prior to kickoff, a moment of silence was held to honour the memory of former Calgary Flames star forward Johnny Gaudreau, who along with his brother Matthew, were killed in a collision by a suspected drunk driver while on a bike ride in New Jersey on Aug. 29.
“My heart goes out to the Calgary sports community,” said Wheeldon Jr. “Johnny Hockey was a very popular name around here and it was nice to give him a tribute because life is short.
“Everybody comes together when somebody within their circle passes and it’s a good reminder to us all that life is short. We can be disappointed about losing, tying, winning, whatever it is, at the end of the day, we get to go home and we’re on the right side of the grass.
“It’s a sad day for the community and one I’m sure the city will come together for.”
