Working overtime paid off for the Cavalry.
Cavalry FC secured a 1-0 victory over HFX Wanderers on an own goal off a free kick in stoppage time to claim a last-ditch three points in Canadian Premier League action amid sweltering conditions on July 15 at Spruce Meadows’ ATCO Field.
“It’s a bit of relief more than anything at first,” said Cavalry FC winger Ben Fisk in a post-match presser. “It’s a really hard game in the heat, a lot of running, a lot of plays that probably should have resulted in a goal for us and I think we were that close to just getting one or two and then seeing the game out and it would have been a lot easier than the way we ended up doing it.
“But it’s an incredible feeling, winner in the last five minutes at home, in front of that crowd, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
In the first minute of stoppage time, Fisk delivered the free kick from the left which careened in off Wanderers defender Daniel Nimick in a crowded box.
Statistically, the sides played to a deadlock in most offensive categories, including possession, passes and shots, with the Cavalry owning a considerable edge in crosses at 29-3.
“Credit to Halifax, they’re a terrific side and had moments with the ball where we had to suffer,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “They defended very well in the second half and made it tough for us to breakdown and teams are doing that.
“We looked at different ways, we looked at set plays, we looked at crosses, we looked at in back and throughs and fortunately one of them came in today.”
The shutout makes it three clean sheets on the season for Cavs goalkeeper Marco Carducci.
Despite a midweek 2-0 loss at home to Atletico Ottawa, the Cavalry’s run of form has seen wins in four of their past five matches to solidify their spot in second place in the CPL standings.
“We spoke at the beginning of the week about it being a big week, we’ve won six of our last eight, so we knew we were in form,” said Wheeldon Jr. “After Wednesday’s game, it was one of those where we had a lot of control and ended up literally throwing the game away.
“We said, ‘Be a goldfish, focus on Saturday and give the fans something to cheer about in a very busy week for the city. To score as last as we did was terrific, and the boys have put in an absolute shift this week and I think that’s what you saw there.”
On the docket to close the month is a July 22 road date at Vancouver FC followed by a rematch with Atletico on July 29 in Ottawa.
For more information, visit cavsfc.com.
