2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #13
Cavalry FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC
August 23, 2020 at 8:00 p.m ET/9:00 p.m. AT
UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

Closing out the second weekend of The Island Games is a pair of exciting attacking teams going head-to-head, as Cavalry FC looks to tighten their grip on first place in the CPL against HFX Wanderers FC.

The Cavs have been perhaps the most impressive team in PEI so far, winning convincingly against Valour FC and FC Edmonton (after the latter went down to 10 men, that is). A controversial late penalty saved them from defeat on opening day against Forge FC, but the point they earned against their Finals 2019 opponents could be valuable.

Meanwhile, it’s been a solid start to the campaign for HFX as well. They’re still looking for their first win, having earned plucky draws against Pacific FC and Forge, but they showed very well in both. The stalemate with Forge kept the champions on their toes for 90 minutes, and Akeem Garcia’s equalizer just after halftime was one of the goals of the season so far.

A win for Cavalry would all but assure them of a spot in the top four. HFX, who are very much in the hunt for another place in the second round, would give themselves an excellent chance by defeating the mighty Cavs.

RELATED READING: Wanderers build off Forge performance, seeking better concentration vs. Cavalry

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Can Mo Farsi be stopped? One of the standouts of The Island Games so far, Mohamed Farsi has been a thrilling addition to the Cavalry wing. When he slotted in at right fullback on Thursday, FC Edmonton seemed to have no answer for Farsi’s pace and power as the PLSQ alumnus repeatedly found his way into space and served up some excellent crosses. HFX will have to find a way to shut him down.

• Shot-for-shot in midfield: Another Cavalry standout has been a former Wanderer in Elliot Simmons. Tommy Wheeldon Jr. compared him to Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos on Thursday, referring to the young midfielder as a regista. The Wanderers, for their part, have a fearsome midfield as well, with Aboubacar Sissoko almost unbeatable in duels so far and Louis Béland-Goyette the team’s ball-winning hero so far.

• International attack: The combination between Akeem Garcia and Alex Marshall for HFX’s goal on Wednesday was spectacular, as those two — plus João Morelli — have been very dangerous going forward. Stephen Hart has rotated his attack well so far, but some more minutes for Marshall, especially alongside Garcia, could generate a few more opportunities.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“I think what we’ll do is keep finding the rhythm and giving guys minutes, so if and when we get to the next round, we’ll have a good body of work to start choosing the strongest 11.”  — Cavalry FC coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.

“I’d like to see players play with a bit more confidence in their own abilities, especially in the attacking third, but that’s directly associated with playing a lot. I would like them to accept the responsibility, take the risk, and make things happen. We are seeing a bit of it.” — HFX Wanderers coach Stephen Hart

ALL-TIME SERIES

Cavalry wins: 4 || HFX wins: 0 || Draws: 1

PREVIOUS MEETING

October 5, 2019: Cavalry FC 2, HFX Wanderers FC 0

REFEREES

Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière
ARs: Travis Lefebvre & Sean Hornsby
4th Official: Carly Shaw-Maclaren