Cavalry FC produced a dominant display of attacking football to dispatch York United FC 4-1 in Sunday’s Canadian Premier League (CPL) playoff quarterfinal at ATCO Field in Calgary Sunday.
The victory, which helped the defending champions advance to the contender semifinal in emphatic fashion, marked the first time in CPL playoff history that a team has won by more than three goals in a knockout match.
Ali Musse opened the scoring for the hosts inside seven minutes with a dazzling curling strike from the right flank before German powerhouse Tobias Warschewski netted twice, either side of an own goal from York defender Luke Singh.
Shaan Hundal’s first half effort briefly offered some hope for the visitors, but Cavalry’s relentless pace and precision proved too much for the exhausted Nine Stripes, who had gone the distance in a midweek marathon against Halifax Wanderers.
“I think it was well executed, to be honest,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “We knew the spaces that would be there. The lads enjoyed it, and I think that’s part of it. Playoff football, you don’t get many multi-goal games.”
Cavalry FC’s early dominance sets the tone
From the opening whistle, the Cavs dictated the tempo by exploiting York’s sluggish start.
Musse’s opener – a left footed strike reminiscent of a Mohammed Salah special – came after a dazzling run and setup from fullback Fraser Aird.
Just nine minutes later, Eryk Kobza’s ball-winning tenacity in midfield sparked a move that led to Warschewski doubling the lead when he slotted the ball home past Diego Urtiaga.
York did manage to claw one back just before halftime when Hundal chipped Marco Carducci in the 44th minute, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished moments after the match restarted in the second half.
Cavalry FC’s Ali Musse scores against York United in the Canadian Premier League playoffs at ATCO Field in Calgary Sunday, Oct. 26, 2026. Photo: Stuart Gradon/Total Soccer News
Goteh Ntignee’s run and cross in the opening minutes of the second half forced Singh’s own goal and helped restore Cavalry’s two-goal cushion. Warschewski then capped his night with a thunderous long-range effort in the 58th minute to make the score 4-1.
“We enjoyed it as a team,” said Warshewski after the match. “I think a lot of guys doubted us a little bit. But in games like these, we know, we believe in ourselves, have the confidence and yeah, we give it our best shot.”
Cavalry’s dominance extended beyond the scoreline. They controlled the possession, pressed aggressively, and looked at a level above their opponents in energy and execution.
The result also extended their unbeaten run at ATCO Field to six matches during which they have now scored 20 goals.
Champions advance to face rivals Forge FC
The victory today, on the same pitch where they lifted the trophy last year, keeps Cavalry’s North Star Cup title defence alive.
Wheeldon Jr. praised his players’ professionalism and collective effort, noting how even the squad members who did not feature had contributed to the preparation.
“I thought they executed the gameplan tremendously well from the first minute to the last,” he said. “Every man that came on, whether they started or finished, was brilliant. I’m humbled by the way they went out and put on a show.”
The Cavs now travel to Hamilton for a semifinal clash against regular-season champions Forge FC next weekend in a match that is brimming with rivalry and playoff history. The two teams have faced each other in the playoffs in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Apart from a spot in the CPL final on the line, another enticing battle to witness will be Warshewski’s intriguing duel with Forge’s David Choiniere. Both players are currently level on four goals each as the CPL’s all-time leading playoff top scorer.
“I think what I’ll do is I’ll enjoy this one, and then we’ll start getting into the game plan,” said Wheeldon Jr. “Forge FC is a terrific regular season champion, and I think it’s going to be another great matchup.”
