It’s officially the Canadian Premier League playoff season. Cavalry FC and Pacific FC will battle it out on Saturday, October 21, for a slot in the final to win the North Star Cup.
Cavalry FC is out for redemption after their 2-1 loss to Forge FC, who are hosting the final. Despite having more shots (18) compared to Forge FC (12), Cavalry fell short and are eager to turn things around this weekend.
Pacific FC will hope the good fortune they had last time out away to Halifax Wanderers will be present in this encounter. Despite the hosts coming out on top of all key statistics, including shots (14-6) and xG (1.7-0.82), Pacific FC secured a win attributed to a Zachary Fernandez own goal.
The head coach of Pacific FC, James Merriman, showed he is a tactical wizard. He shifted from a 4-3-3 to a more conservative 4-4-2 that sat back and took its chances on the counter. Cavalry will have to work hard to get their first win ever in the postseason.
Cavalry vs Pacific Main Match Info
- Date: October 21, 2023
- Kickoff time: 4 p.m. ET
- Stadium: ATCO Field
- Location: Alberta, Canada
- Last match: Cavalry FC – Pacific FC 3:0 (October 8, 2023, Canadian Premier League)
Cavalry vs Pacific Prediction and Odds
- Pick: Cavalry FC to win
- Odds: +118 (Tonybet)
Cavalry FC has been the stronger team in their last five meetings, pulling off three wins and two draws. The match presents an opportunity for Cavalry FC to secure a playoff win finally.
Pacific FC admirably saw off Halifax Wanderers despite the home side throwing everything at them, especially in the second half. However, at the tail end of the season, the Tridents lost their last three games while struggling to score.
Cavalry FC are already champions, and that regular season trophy will motivate them to see off the visitors and head to the finals. Their ability to stay solid defensively while crafting efficient and methodical attacks will be enough to steer them to victory.
Cavalry vs Pacific Betting Tips
- Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
- Odds: -108 (Tonybet)
Pacific FC showed in their match with Halifax that they can sit back and manage a game to minimize the opponent’s chance at scoring.
The last time the two sides faced each other, Cavalry scored three goals without a response. However, the visitors are on a postseason streak, having won both playoff matches with a 1-0 margin. Pacific will make it hard for Cavalry to create and convert chances, leaving the game to be won via thin margins.
In their last ten outings, both teams have played edge-of-your-seat matches that mostly ended with a 1-goal margin, with 2-1 being the most common score (six times for Cavalry and twice for Pacific).
With both teams likely adopting a ‘safety first’ approach, we might see fewer fireworks this time around. Bottom line? We’re probably in for a tactical showdown where every move counts.
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