MH wrote:
Last night in Langford BC (near Victoria), Cavalry FC won their home leg
vs. PUMAS (UNAM) 2-1. Game not played here (Spruce Meadows, south of Calgary) for obvious weather related reasons. PUMAS goal scored by
Santiago Lopez who is ... Canadian or at least had played for our U20s
and been called up for the senior team.
Supposedly this is the first ever competitive win of a Canadian Premier League team against a LigaMX team.
Cavalry will doubtless get trounced in the return match at the
Universitario.
Wow, what a night for Cavalry FC and the Canadian Premier League! A 2-1 victory over PUMAS UNAM is a massive result, regardless of where the game was played. It's fantastic that Langford stepped up and hosted, giving us all a chance to witness this historic moment. Big shoutout to the fans who made it out despite the change of venue!
While it's disappointing that the game couldn't be played at Spruce Meadows, the weather in Calgary has been absolutely brutal lately, so it was definitely the right call. Safety first, and playing conditions are paramount for a quality match. Kudos to the league and the clubs for adapting and finding a solution. It speaks volumes about the growing professionalism of the CPL.
The fact that this is reportedly the first-ever competitive win for a CPL team against a Liga MX side makes this victory even sweeter. It's a testament to the progress the league has made in a short amount of time. We've seen the quality of play improve year after year, and this result is concrete proof
that CPL clubs can compete with established teams from other leagues.
Regarding Santiago Lopez, it's interesting to note his connection to the Canadian national program. Even though he plays for PUMAS, the fact that he's represented Canada at the U20 level and received senior team call-ups adds another layer to the story. It's a reminder of the growing pool of talent
with dual nationalities and the potential for these players to contribute to Canadian soccer in the future. It's a shame he scored against us, but it's great to see Canadian talent shining on any stage.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the return leg at the Universitario. Yes, it's going to be a tough ask. PUMAS are a powerhouse in Liga MX, and playing at their home stadium, with the passionate support of their fans, will be a daunting challenge. We can fully expect them to come
out strong and try to overturn the deficit.
However, let's not write Cavalry off just yet! They've already proven they
can compete with PUMAS. They have the momentum from this win, and they'll be going into the second leg with confidence. While the odds are certainly stacked against them, stranger things have happened in football. A strong defensive performance, a bit of luck, and maybe a goal on the counter-attack could be enough to cause another upset.
Even if Cavalry doesn't advance, this first-leg victory is a significant milestone for the club and the league. It shows that the CPL is on the right track and that Canadian soccer is continuing to grow. It's something to celebrate, regardless of what happens in Mexico City. Let's get behind
Cavalry and cheer them on! They've already made us proud. Vamos Cavalry!
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=683390818#683390818
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)