A Quartet of Quality Canadian Premier League Matches

Across the first weekend of August 2021 we were treated to four exceptional examples of the best the CPL has to offer. Below is the full recap of two days high on energy and excitement, with plenty of sights to behold:

The HFX Wanderers had the better goal scoring chances early on over York United, all of which came up short until the most unexpected play ended in the first score: a diving header by Jake Ruby on the edge of the box left everyone stunned and the York goal open, the ball breezing past Niko Giantsopoulos.

As the first half drew on, Max Ferrari pounced on a loose ball in the Wanderers' box and struck home the equaliser for York. Immediately Peter Schaale got the ball to Ruby in the York box and he got the pass off to Joao Morelli, who in turn found the path to goal to give the Wanderers the half-time lead.

Shortly after the second half began a wild thirty-yard attempt on goal by York's Isaiah Johnston evaded Christian Oxner to level the scores once again. With time running out Lowell Right tangled with Ruby in the HFX box for possession and was able to get around him and a shot off, which passed Oxner and went over the line. In the most dramatic fashion, York United had completed the most unexpected comeback away win.

After an early disallowed goal for FC Edmonton, Terrin Campbell found Matteo Polisi open to put Pacific FC up 1-0 at the conclusion of the first half. After creating a goal-scoring chance for someone else, Campbell then made one for himself. Dispossessing an off-guard Mele Temguia in the Edmonton defence, he then out-run keeper Connor James and rolled in the second Pacific goal.

A charge on the Pacific goal resulted in Easton Orango finding the gap past Callum Irving and this time the goal counted for FC Ed. They kept looking and on the seventy-fifth minute, after three long passes finally reached Tobias Wachasawakski, he got past everyone in way of the Pacific goal and scored the equaliser for Edmonton.

Victor Blasco had one last chance to win the game with a late free kick, which was denied by James. It was a sad end for Pacific after a dominant start, but great resolve from Edmonton saw them save themselves from the loss and gaining a point from the 2-2 draw.

Spruce Meadows played home to a more modest match-up between Cavalry and Valour FC, but produced a well-orchestrated scoring effort. At forty minutes Sergio Camaro found a path through the Valour defence and to Mohamed Farsi, who powered the ball home to put Cavalry up 1-0. Valour's best chance at equalising was a 42-minute free kick, which skirted over the top of the net. Unable to step it up in the second half, this first half score would also be the final score.

Over in Hamilton, after seeing his early attempts denied by Dylon Powley in goal for Atletico Ottawa, Forge FC's Mo Babouli stepped up to the penalty spot in the thirty-ninth minute and made no mistake in getting his team off the mark. Minutes later a sensational free kick by Tristan Borges found Garven-Michee Metusala unmarked by the right hand goal post and free to head in Forge's second goal.

The sending off of Victor Martinez left Ottawa short-handed for all of the second half, but despite repeated attempts by Forge for more score they held firm not to concede any more. A free kick by Malcolm Shaw was the best attempt for Atletico, but it went right into the hands of Baj Maan, who kept a clean sheet at the end of this highly entertaining 2-0 win for Forge.

After these results, Pacific lead the league by a point over their closest challengers, Cavalry FC. Previous leaders Valour FC are now in third, edging out Forge, who both sit comfortably above York United. FC Edmonton's draw this week put them ahead of the HFX Wanderers, spared from last place by the struggling Atletico Ottawa.

Will there be any more changes this CPL season? Check back here for further updates on all goings-on, also visit the league's official website by following this link.

Picture Credit: Trevor MacMillan