n a complete and commanding display, defending Canadian Premier League (CPL) champions Cavalry FC thumped 10-man Pacific FC 4-0 at the ATCO Field in Spruce Meadows on Friday night to register their first home victory this season.
Riding off an early Mihail Gherasimencov screamer and second-half goals from Tobias Warschewski, Ali Musse, and Nicolas Wahling, the Cavs got their fourth win on the bounce across all competitions.
“We’re getting there. It’s a process; sometimes we’re a bit slow out of the gates, but good things are starting to happen,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr post-match. “Like I said before the game, it was all about just finding rhythm, and it’s nice to do that at home in front of our fans. A lot of goals to celebrate, but also a shutout.”
Loading ...In the kind of swirling, miserable Calgary weather that breaks resolve, Cavalry simply looked sharper, more committed, and more together — building on a 10-match unbeaten run against Pacific and climbing to third place in the league standings, just ahead of Forge FC.
Cavalry strike early, push Pacific on the backfoot
It took just seven minutes for Cavalry to turn pressure into points.
After a couple of half-chances created by a lively Ali Musse on the right flank, it was Gherasimencov — the 20-year-old loanee from Whitecaps FC 2 — who opened the scoring with a thunderous half-volley.
Following a corner cleared poorly by the Pacific defense, the ball dropped to Gherasimencov at the top of the box. He took one touch, one swing, and in one moment of pure quality buried the ball into the top left corner to give Cavalry a deserving 1-0 lead.
“That’s my type of range,” the Moldovan wingback smiled after the match. “You probably saw against Forge — one of my first shots hit the post and almost went in. This time, I got lucky and it went in.”
“He’s a terrific ball striker,” Wheeldon Jr. added. “Terrific left foot and he’s also got that grit.”
From there, the Cavs never looked back. Musse, making his 100th appearance for the club, was a menace down the right. His link-up play with Fraser Aird and Sergio Camargo consistently broke Pacific’s shape – and ultimately, their resilience.
Camargo tested Pacific keeper Sean Melvin around the half-hour mark, and Cavalry nearly added a second right before halftime through another sweeping Musse run — only for the final ball to evade everyone in the box.
Cavalry FC show no mercy as Pacific capitulate
If there was any hope of a Pacific response, it faded quickly after the restart. Cavalry came out flying, pinning the Tridents back with wave after wave of pressure.
And in the 59th minute, they were rewarded for that intent.
Musse’s free kick was deflected out for a corner, and from the ensuing set-piece, a handball in the box led to a Cavalry penalty. Tobias Warschewski — who now has four goals in the league — coolly slotted home from the spot to make the score 2-0.
Pacific tried their best to arrest the Cavalry aggression soon after, but it was all in vain because just nine minutes later it was Musse’s turn to score from the 12-yard mark when he was brought down in the box.
Attacker Ali Musse of Cavalry FC scores on a penalty. CFC Media\ Mike Sturk
The right winger converted with confidence, using a stutter step and tucking it into the bottom right corner.
“He’s such a threat,” Wheeldon Jr. said. “He’s showing intelligence, good decision making, and also two-way play — I was delighted for him.”
Down three goals and with no answer to Cavalry’s flank play, Pacific’s night went from bad to worse in the 88th minute as substitute Christian Greco-Taylor picked up a second yellow card — reducing the visitors to 10 men.
Then, in stoppage time, Wahling delivered the final blow when the German midfielder blasted home a free kick into the top right corner with ruthless precision, sealing the rout at 4-0.
Pacific’s woes continue, Cavs set for crunch week
It was another difficult night in Calgary for James Merriman’s side, who have never won a regular season CPL match at ATCO Field — and have now scored just once in their last eight visits.
“You can’t come here and start how we started,” Merriman said post-match. “We lacked intensity from the start. If you do that against Cavalry, it’s not going to go your way.”
Pacific now have to regroup quickly ahead of a tough home clash with Forge FC next weekend — while also confronting the reality that last week’s thrilling comeback over York United might not have been a turning point after all.
Cavalry FC, meanwhile, shift their focus to the Canadian Championship, where they face Vancouver FC on May 21 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. They’ll return to ATCO Field on May 25 to host Valour FC in league play.
