If Cavalry are to taste more champagne this year, however, they may have to do it without some of the players vital to their championship last season. Tobias Warschewski and Sergio Camargo, both of Cavalry’s goalscorers in the 2025 Final, are doubtful for Sunday, according to Tommy Wheeldon Jr. Diego Gutiérrez is considered questionable, and Brad Kamdem is also being assessed.
Adding to the challenge, Cavalry’s most recent home loss, one of only three this season, came against York. The feisty 1-0 match saw eight bookings shown between the two sides, and Ali Musse was sent off following the final whistle as both benches cleared and had to be separated following a fiery end to the match.
That passion and intensity is only going to increase as one of these clubs will see their season end on Sunday. In four meetings between the two clubs this season, 32 bookings have been shown. York, meanwhile, are coming off an intense affair in Halifax where they set a CPL playoff record for fouls with 23.
York United are coming off the first road playoff victory in club history. Cavalry, meanwhile, have experienced both the highest of highs and excruciating lows on their home pitch in the CPL Playoffs. While they won the 2024 final at ATCO Field, they also lost the second leg of the 2019 final. They have a 2-1-3 all-time playoff record in Calgary.
In the history of this fixture, the two clubs have managed to settle matters during the 90 minutes. Just three of the 25 all-time meetings have ended with the score tied. That was the case again in 2025, as both sides won two of the four matches they contested this season. However, if the score remains tied after regulation on Sunday, it is off to extra time and then, if that solves nothing, penalties.
Should the match reach spot kicks again, York have the recent and historical advantage. The Nine Stripes’ victory over Halifax was their third on penalties in club history. They have lost just once on spotkicks in club history: last year’s qualifying semifinal against Atlético Ottawa.
Cavalry are still searching for their first victory on penalties, as they are 0-3 all-time, including a loss to Vancouver FC in the CanChamp quarter-finals earlier this year.
York will be without Shola Jimoh for Sunday’s match, who is off to join the Canadian men’s U-17 national team as they prepare for the 2025 U-17 World Cup. Jimoh has been immense for the club in the playoffs, with an assist on Julian Altobelli’s late equalizer against Halifax, and a goal and an assist against Atlético Ottawa last year. The club is still assessing the availability of Orlando Botello and Leonel López. Otherwise, everyone else who played on Wednesday has recovered well and is available.
Can the defending champions take care of business at home, or will the Nine Stripes continue their incredible Cinderella run?
