In front of an outstanding crowd at ATCO Field on Saturday, a stoppage-time winner from Daan Klomp gave Cavalry FC a monumental 1-0 victory over Pacific FC.

Cavalry’s Ali Musse forced the first save of the game in the 13th minute with some quick buildup down the right flank, playing the winger into the box. His shot, however, was well saved and collected by Emil Gazdov.

The match settled into a familiar rhythm in the early going, with Cavalry FC holding the bulk of possession, and probing away at the resolute Pacific FC backline. When the Tridents won the ball back, they looked quick and decisive on the counterattack.

It was on one such occasion that the Tridents forced the next big chance. A dangerous cross from Georges Mukumbilwa from the right flank dropped into the path of Zakaria Bahous, but Marco Carducci got across to make a brilliant save to keep the match level.

After that moment, the Tridents began to find more of a foothold in the game, attacking with more and more frequency as they put the Cavalry FC backline under significant pressure.

Right before the half-time whistle, Lowell Wright forced another good save from Gazdov with a strong solo effort. The score, however, remained 0-0 when that whistle went.

The Cavs were forced to make a change early in the second half, when Maël Henry pulled up injured and had to be replaced by Sergio Camargo. The substitute quickly made his presence felt, creating a very good chance for Shamit Shome shortly upon his introduction, which was again well saved by Gazdov.

Musse forced another strong save from the Tridents’ keeper just five minutes later on a curling free kick that Gazdov deflected to his right. The Cavs kept pressing, with wave after wave of attack frustrated by a strong Pacific FC defensive effort.

In the 79th minute, Musse won another free-kick just outside the Cavalry box to the left, but Fraser Aird could not get his delivery right. Then in the 89th minute, Gazdov made another outstanding save on Klomp from close range.

But spurred on by their home supporters, Cavalry didn’t stop charging. In the first minute of stoppage time, Klomp took advantage of a moment of chaos in the Pacific FC box, and slid the ball past the young Pacific goalkeeper.

It was heartbreak for the Tridents, who perhaps deserved more for a courageous defensive effort, but a big three points for a Cavalry FC side who seem like a team of destiny right now in their quest to earn back-to-back CPL regular season titles.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Kobza, Klomp, Kamdem; Gutiérrez (Trafford 88′), Shome; Musse, Henry (46′ Camargo), Wähling; Wright (Shaw 68′) 

Pacific FC: Gazdov; Mukumbilwa (Dada-Luke 88′), Quintana, Ceceri, Greco-Taylor; Yeates, Toussaint (Meilleur-Giguère 88′), Young, Bahous (Keshavarz 61′), Lamothe; O’Hea (Moore 61′)  

Goals

90+1′ — Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

57′ — Yellow: Juan Quintana (Pacific FC)
90+2′ — Yellow: Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)