Cavalry draw 2-2 in Halifax as Shield race goes to the final day

HALIFAX — Cavalry FC will take the Canadian Premier League Shield race to the final day of the regular season after Thomas Meilleur-Giguère scored in the second minute of stoppage time to give HFX Wanderers a 2-2 draw at Wanderers Grounds on Monday.

Jason Bahamboula opened the scoring for Halifax in the sixth minute, assisted by Miguel Arilla Guinot. Caniggia Elva tied the game for Cavalry in the 40th minute, and Ali Musse put Cavalry ahead in the 55th, finishing a pass from Tobias Warschewski. Cavalry played the final stretch with 10 men after a red card in the 77th minute, and Meilleur-Giguère tied it at 90+2 on a Ryan Telfer assist.

Cavalry outshot Halifax 18-14, though Halifax put four shots on target to Cavalry's three. Halifax held 60 per cent of possession and won 11 corners to Cavalry's four, while Cavalry won 58 duels to Halifax's 49 and made 22 tackles. Both teams committed 14 fouls.

The draw leaves Cavalry and Forge FC level on 54 points through 26 matches, with Cavalry first on goal difference, plus-32 to Forge's plus-26. Cavalry close the regular season at home to Pacific FC on Saturday at ATCO Field (2 p.m. MT, 4 p.m. ET) with the Shield on the line.

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