Cavalry FC eyes CPL Shield as Warschewski, Musse embrace title race
CALGARY — The Canadian Premier League Shield race runs through ATCO Field on Saturday, and Cavalry FC hold their fate in their own hands.
Cavalry host Pacific FC at 2 p.m. MT level with Forge FC on 54 points atop the table, ahead on goal differential, with two matches left in the regular season. The Shield cannot be settled this weekend, with the race set to conclude on the final day, but a home win keeps Cavalry in control while Forge visit Atlético Ottawa on the same afternoon.
“We win and we win. It’s a very simple message,” head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said at his media availability on Friday. “And we get to do so at home in front of our fans.”
Wheeldon Jr. called the league title the club’s first pursuit this season.
“I’m a purist when it comes down to the league shield,” he said. “It’s a trophy, it’s an entrance into Concacaf [Champions Cup], so we’ve got to chase that one first before we even focus on anything else. And that’s been our pursuit this year.”
He is enjoying the chase, too.
“This is probably the most exciting team I’ve had in the eight seasons here,” Wheeldon Jr. said.
For Tobias Warschewski, a regular-season title would be new territory.
“It means a lot,” Warschewski told Provectus Media on Friday. “It would be the first regular-season [title] in my career so far. You remember these things after your career, what you won together.”
Cavalry return home after a three-match road stretch and Warschewski backed his side to respond at ATCO Field, where the club is unbeaten this season.
“We have everything it needs to win a football match,” he said. “We just need to believe in ourselves again. Back to our house, in front of our fans, believe in our quality and get it done.”
Ali Musse, speaking on the league’s pre-match media call, described the mood in the group as “calm and focused” and said the work this week has been about detail.
“Just the little details, honestly,” Musse said on the call. “It’s not the right time to put the foot off the gas. We’ve let in a few goals more than probably the majority of the season, so we just have to stay focused. We’ve got the league to win.”
Much of Cavalry’s attack runs through the two of them. Warschewski has ten goals and ten assists this season, and the partnership is in its third year together.
“Me and Musi, we’re playing now the third year together,” Warschewski said. “I know exactly what he wants to do. It’s a blind connection we have. I don’t really need to think about what he’s going to do.”
Musse, also on the media call, returned the compliment.
“Tobi’s a phenomenal player. For me, he’s been one of the best players in the league since he’s actually been here,” Musse said. “If he’s just being himself, he’s playing free, comfortable, he’s happy, there’s no one that can really stop him.”
Musse’s own road to this point has not been straight. Injuries disrupted his start to the season, and his wife gave birth to their son just over a month ago. He has found his form as the games have grown in importance.
“I just think a lot of trust in the process, patience,” he said. “I think the birth of my son maybe gave me some blessings.”
Cavalry will be without Harry Paton, who is suspended after his sending off in Halifax on Monday, and Sergio Camargo, who is day to day. Wheeldon Jr. said the club hopes to have Camargo back for the playoffs.
Pacific arrive last in the table and eliminated from playoff contention, but Musse insisted the visitors will get Cavalry’s full attention.
“We know that they’re not in the best place, so obviously they’re going to come out and give us a match,” he said. “It’s not someone that we take lightly.”
A win Saturday sends Cavalry into the regular-season finale at home to Vancouver FC on October 25 with the Shield still in their hands.
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