Cavalry FC have resumed their season exactly the way they left it before the World Cup break, as they topped Atlético Ottawa 3-0 at TD Place on Saturday afternoon.
The visiting Cavs got off to the races quickly, opening the scoring before the match was 10 minutes old as Sergio Camargo got his head to a flicked-on corner kick and scored his third goal of the season. Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. did reveal postmatch that the corner routine had come straight off the training ground; Caniggia Elva's flicked touch to Camargo was exactly what they had planned.
Just eight minutes later, Cavalry really silenced the crowd by doubling their lead; this time, Harry Paton picked off a pass inside Ottawa's half and Camargo moved it forward to Ali Musse in the box. Musse's shot met the hand of Atleti keeper Chris Kalongo, but Goteh Ntignee was on the scene at the back post to smash home the rebound.
The third goal was another quick motion forward from the Cavs, who sliced through the Ottawa midfield with a long ball forward by Caniggia Elva. The St. Lucia international continued his run into the box, where he was able to get on the end of an Ntignee cross to make it 3-0.
It was a nightmare first half for the hosts, who allowed 11 shots and 1.82 expected goals by their opponents in just 45 minutes, leaving themselves in a deep hole at the break.
Ottawa's interim head coach Drew Beckie went, unsurprisingly, to his bench at halftime. He made a triple substitution, yanking Daniel Aguilar, Jonantan Villal and Erling Myklebust out of the match in exchange for Wesley Timoteo, Joaquim Coulanges and Emiliano Garcia, respectively.
The changes didn't shift the game dramatically; indeed, Camargo almost scored again for Cavalry with a quick counter shortly after the break.
However, the second half was generally not as eventful as the first. Cavalry, expecting Atleti to have more of the ball as they tried to score at least a consolation goal, absorbed the pressure well and stifled any major attacking chances from the hosts.
Cavalry remained dominant en route to what was, ultimately, a comfortable win. With the triumph, they perhaps exorcised some ghosts from the 2025 CPL Final, where they lost to Ottawa at this same venue. They've now beaten Atleti twice this season.
The result was an important one for the Cavs, who kept pace near the top of the CPL table. At full-time, they were two points off first place, though Forge hadn't yet played their Sunday afternoon match.
Ottawa, meanwhile, missed a chance to solidify their place in third, although they'll stay there through the weekend regardless of any other outcomes.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Atlético Ottawa: Kalongo; Mbomio (Assi 70'), Cloutier, Kozlovskiy, Aguilar (Timoteo 46'); Antinoro, Aparicio, Castro, Villal (Coulanges 46'); Tabla (Khoury 75'), Myklebust (Garcia 46')
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Pearlman, Klomp, Didić, Kamdem Fewo; Paton (Baldisimo 62'), Kobza; Musse (Antoniuk 77'), Camargo (Myroniuk 72'), Ntignee (Edwards 62'); Elva (Herdman 77')
Goals
9' - Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
17' - Goteh Ntignee (Cavalry FC)
39' - Caniggia Elva (Cavalry FC)
Discipline
4' - Yellow: Goteh Ntignee (Cavalry FC)
45+4' - Yellow: Bradley Kamdem Fewo (Cavalry FC)
53' - Yellow: Harry Paton (Cavalry FC)
80' - Yellow: Ralph Khoury (Atlético Ottawa)
84' - Yellow: Nathan Ingham (Cavalry FC)
87' - Yellow: Juan Castro (Atlético Ottawa)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Caniggia Elva, Cavalry FC
The striker got a late start in this match after Tobias Warschewski picked up a knock, and he was excellent. Elva contributed a goal and an assist, scoring the third and flicking it to Camargo for the first. His running up front gave the Cavs a tremendous threat all game, and caused serious issues for Ottawa as they attempted to mark him.
What's Next?
Both sides' attention now turns to the TELUS Canadian Championship quarterfinals, which get underway next week.
They'll each play their first leg on July 8. Cavalry will head to B.C. to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), while Ottawa travel to Quebec to play FC Supra in Laval (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT).
For the full broadcast schedule: cplsoccer.com/watch.
