Cavalry FC are finally off the mark in 2023, as after five straight draws to start the season, they picked up their first win on Sunday, 2-0 against Atlético Ottawa.

Sergio Camargo opened the scoring for the Cavs, while central defender Daan Klomp doubled the score in the second half. In net, Marco Carducci faced just one shot on target to keep his, and the club’s, first clean sheet of the season.

Luke Singh created an early chance for the visitors with a slaloming run forward from centreback, before being fouled in the Cavalry half. The defender took the free kick from distance himself, but his strike was easily handled by Carducci in the Cavalry net.

The hosts had an excellent chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute as after some excellent interplay with Ali Musse, Camargo broke through into the Atleti box. However, his strike was ultimately mishit well over the bar. On that play, however, Ottawa’s MacDonald Niba, while chasing down Camargo, pulled up and was forced to be replaced by Max Tissot.

Cavalry won a free-kick of their own shortly thereafter in a good position to the left of the box. Fraser Aird’s free-kick was initially cleared, but only as far as Camargo who this time made no mistake with a sliding finish through traffic in the box to open his account for 2023.

It was Camargo again who ignited another attack just before half-time with a clever run down the right flank. He found Myer Bevan in the box, but the Cavalry striker saw his shot well blocked. After conceding twice just before half-time last weekend, it was Cavalry who were on the front foot towards the end of the opening 45. They did not add to their lead, but for the first time this season, they went into the dressing room at the half with a lead.

Cavalry thought they had added a second in the 52nd minute, as José Escalante volleyed home brilliantly inside the box. His goal was ruled off, however, as Bevan was deemed to be offside on the play and interfering with Sean Melvin in goal.

In the 67th minute, however, the Cavs finally doubled their lead. On another set piece, a brilliant delivery from Aird found Ali Musse at the back post, who headed across goal for Klomp who tapped the ball home.

The visitors pressed heavily in the final ten minutes of the match, with six shot attempts in the final ten minutes. None of them, however, troubled Carducci, as it was significantly too little and too late from Atleti.

In the end, it was just the second time in club history that Cavalry have defeated Atlético Ottawa, losing both matches handily at ATCO Field last season. With the win, the Calgary side move up to third place in the CPL table, while Ottawa drop down into seventh, tied on points with last-place Halifax Wanderers.

BOX SCORE

Goals:

22′ — Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
67′ — Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC) 

Discipline:

10′ — Yellow: José Escalante (Cavalry FC)
23′ — Yellow: Jean-Aniel Assi (Atlético Ottawa)
70′ — Yellow: Sam Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
71′ — Yellow: Bradley Kamdem (Cavalry FC)