CAVALRY FC 1
PACIFIC FC 0
Emil Gazdov could only do so much to staunch the bleeding. The Pacific FC goalkeeper was brilliant in keeping the Tridents in the game, but Cavalry FC scored one minute into injury time, in the 91st minute, to beat PFC 1-0 before 5,043 fans in the Canadian Premier League in Calgary on Saturday.
“Had it not been for Gazdov’s saves, it could have been a bigger scoreline that it was,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
The Calgary club felt justice was served by the late-rescue goal scored by Daan Klomp, the veteran Dutchman who has played at heady heights in the Netherlands Premiership Eredivise.
“It was disappointing for [Gazdov] not to get the clean sheet,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“We have seen his potential come to life.”
PFC has won only twice in the last 15 games and is the lowest-scoring team in the CPL by a wide margin as it faces the possibility of missing the playoffs for only the second time in the six years of league history.
Cavalry, which was in sixth place just a few weeks ago, is headed in the other direction and is now in second place.
“We know the position PFC is in, we’ve been there,” said Wheeldon.
But now they have turned their season and Calgary soccer fans have responded.
“The atmosphere today was incredible,” said Cavalry FC goalkeeper Marco Carducci.
“We always want to put on a show for our fans.”
Wheeldon also commented on the lively crowd Saturday and the journey it has been to the establishment of a domestic Canadian pro soccer league, a stipulation of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup: “In 2015, we were launching Calgary in the [amateur] Premier Development League. It’s humbling. We have to make sure this league [pro CPL] continues to exist after others have taken over these jobs.”
It doesn’t get any easier for PFC, with a match-up Tuesday night at B.C. Place Stadium against the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer in the second leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal. The Caps’ lead 1-0 following their win last month at Starlight Stadium. “We need to shift focus quickly, which is not easy, because of our recent run of results,” said Merriman.
“We need to stay mentally strong. It’s our only option. We have no time to feel sorry. We know the story of where we are and know what we need to do. We need to stay together and continue to fight.”
As bad as things have been, Merriman noted that the Tridents are still an upset result away on Tuesday from hosting the Canadian Championship game for the Voyageurs Cup at Starlight Stadium.
Hamilton’s Forge FC of the CPL holds a shocking one-goal lead over Toronto FC of MLS heading into the second leg at BMO Field of the other Voyageurs Cup semifinal.
The Canadian Championship winner will play in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
