Final Score: Vancouver FC 0-1 Cavalry FC
Goalscorers: Henry 23′
Game of the 2024 season: 60
CPL match: 544

Match in a minute or less

Cavalry FC were full value for their second consecutive road victory, coming into Langley on Friday night and leaving with all three points in a 1-0 victory over Vancouver FC.

Maël Henry scored the match’s lone goal, his first of the season in his first start of the campaign after returning from injury.

With the victory, Cavalry FC passed Vancouver FC in the table, moving up into fourth spot. They also maintained their undefeated record against the Eagles, with six victories and two draws in all competitions.

Three Observations

Despite narrow win, Cavalry FC look dangerous as squad continues to get deeper and more dynamic

On paper, Friday night was the 14th time, and tenth straight match, that Cavalry FC have scored just a single goal or fewer.

But on the pitch, Friday’s performance felt like an important step toward the 2023 regular season winners regaining their championship form.

Cavalry put in an impressive performance in Vancouver that demonstrated the tactical and technical versatility of the players they have at their disposal as the club continues to get healthier.

On the road, Cavalry finished with 54.3 per cent of the possession, made 82 final third entries — nearly double what Vancouver FC managed — and had seven shots on target.

New signing Nicolas Wähling continues to get up to speed, while Lowell Wright made his Cavalry debut on Friday and instantly looked dangerous — forcing a good save from Vancouver’s Callum Irving with one of his first touches of the match.

On the other side of the ball, it was an impressive defensive performance from the Cavs, especially considering the availability of players. In the first half, Charlie Trafford played alongside Daan Klomp. His passing range from deep was instantly an asset, as he completed 44 of 48 passes during the first half — while also picking moments to get forward and add numbers in the midfield.

When his calf tightened up at halftime, Cavalry brought on Bradley Kamdem, who himself was returning from injury, to play at left-back and shifted Tom Field inside — who showed important composure to help the visitors see out a big three points.

“Right now, we’re almost playing playoff football, where it’s going to be tight,” said Wheeldon Jr. “Everything is going to be tight, but these guys know how to suffer.”

Finally having moved above the playoff line again, Cavalry have their sights even higher. After Friday’s results, they now sit just eight points behind league-leading Atlético Ottawa, who coincidentally is the team they will face in their next match in the nation’s capital next Saturday. Win there, and Cavalry are unquestionable back in the CPL Shield discussion.

“What’s delayed is not denied is a saying I think I’ve been using where it’s took us a little bit longer to get out of the pattern of draws and get back into the win column,” said Wheeldon Jr. “But I told the lads, when we hit the halfway point, we’ll go on a winning run. And I said it publicly because I believe in the words. I believe in the group.”

‘Magic’ Maël Henry adds dynamic movement and confidence to Cavalry FC’s attack 

There is no question that with all the injuries and absences this season, Cavalry FC’s attack has been missing a bit of magic and bravery in the final third over the past few months.

On Friday, they got that through the play of 20-year-old Maël Henry, making his first start of 2024 after dealing with injury for most of the first half of the campaign. It was his goal — his first of the season — in the 23rd minute which proved to be the difference maker.

Henry showed a desire to get forward and create chances for himself from the opening moments of the match. In 68 minutes of action, the Montréal native had four shots, four touches inside the box, while completing 90 per cent of his passes.

“I think in this league when things are so tight it’s the magicians that can get you that bit of magic you need,” said Wheeldon Jr. “He did that and he almost scored a goal on the breakaway and he almost scored on his shot from the edge of the box. He can score in different ways.”

It is perhaps ironic in the end, that his first goal of the season ultimately came from a tap-in from close range. But that moment was created by the sort of quality attacking movement that truly made the player so effective in the match.

Deployed primarily as a right winger, Henry would often tuck in centrally, which not only allowed Fraser Aird plenty of space down the right flank but also provided another option in the middle. Throughout the match, Henry found dangerous pockets of space in which to operate, switching seamlessly with Sergio Camargo in the middle and combining well with teammates in all areas of the attacking third.

“It’s nice to be back playing, it’s been a difficult season for me with lots of injuries, and my first injuries too, because I’ve never been injured in the past,” said Henry. “But I worked hard, I worked a lot with the physical trainers, the sports scientists…[I’ve been] waiting for this moment a long time.”

Vancouver FC’s three-match homestand comes to a disappointing end as they dip below the playoff line 

Vancouver FC came into the month of July with plenty of confidence. Near the top of the table, and knowing they had three straight matches at home, where at the time they had lost just once in 2024, they felt it was a chance to solidify their spot in the table.

As they reached the three-match homestand’s conclusion on Friday, however, they did so with just a single point registered, and a single goal scored, in losses to Atlético Ottawa and now Cavalry, as well as a draw with York United.

They could finish the weekend below the playoff line for the first time this season, which will bring with it a lot of questions about how this team can get out of its current slump. After a tremendous start to the year, the Eagles now have just one win in their last eight matches.

While keeping goals out of their own net has been a bit of an issue all season, with Vancouver just one below Valour now for the most allowed in the league (27), it was their lack of spark in the final third that was so concerning again on Friday. They have not managed over 1 xG in each of their past five matches, with their highest total being 0.73 in a 1-1 draw last week against York United.

Injuries and suspensions have certainly hurt in this regard, with Ghotbi reiterating how important players like Moses Dyer (injured) and Vasco Fry (suspended) are to the success of this team.

There were also certainly some positives for Vancouver FC on Friday night. Olivier Rommens continues to look like an exciting signing for this team, and once he gets fully on the same page with his teammates, especially Alejandro Díaz up front, there will be more goals on the way.

The Belgian created four chances on Friday night, while once again completing an impressive 90 per cent of his passes. But it wasn’t enough to orchestrate a crucial goal against Cavalry, and after going undefeated in their first three matches of the season in Langley, VFC are now winless in four straight.

“Maybe going away we feel less pressure,” said Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi. “I think we see in this league at home, you feel like you have to attack, you play more open and teams sit and they played more more organized and more disciplined and they get you on counters.

“I think maybe it’s better for us to go away and maybe take the pressure off and try to get ourselves back in a winning way.”

They will try to do that next in Halifax, looking for their first-ever victory at the Wanderers Grounds on Monday, August 5

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Maël Henry, Cavalry FC

Henry was the kind of spark in attack that Cavalry have been missing, with a direct and confident approach that saw him take four shots, and score the goal which ultimately handed the visitors the victory.