Cavalry achieves La Remontada with stunning comeback victory over Pumas

Photo Credit: CONCACAF.com

In another defining moment for a club that continues to defy the odds, Cavalry FC earned a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Pumas UNAM on Thursday night at Langford’s Starlight Stadium, in the opening round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Second-half goals from Charlie Trafford and Tobias Warschewski were enough for the reigning Canadian Premier League champs to overcome Pumas’ opener from Santiago Lopez on the cusp of halftime.

The Calgarians’ win – in what was, remarkably, their first competitive match of 2025 – marks the first time a Canadian Premier League club has beaten a Liga MX side. CPL rivals Forge battled hard but went down to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their match-up against Monterrey in Hamilton the night before.

It’s also the first time a CPL side has won a match in the continental competition.

“I think the whole team did it today. I’m just happy for the guys,” Warschewski told OneSoccer immediately after the match.

“When you concede just before halftime a goal like that, I think everyone was a little head down into the locker room, but we showed character in the second half and I think we deserved the win today.”

With yellow cards dished out to both teams in the opening five minutes, (one to Ricardo Galindo in the opening minute and then one to Trafford just a few minutes later) the match seemed destined for a feisty duel amid chilly winter conditions on Vancouver Island.

But a battle of attrition followed those early cautions, as neither side was able to threaten the other – though Pumas, who opted not to bring key players like Ruben Duarte, enjoyed the bulk of possession.

Just before half-time, the visitors broke the deadlock when Lopez, a Canadian international, stabbed home a rebound that Cavs goalkeeper Marco Carducci spilled following a shot from Piero Quispe to give the Mexicans a 1-0 lead. It was the 2005-born player’s first goal for Pumas, in his third game for the club.

¡Santiago López la manda al fondo de la red! 🎯#ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/C4tgxgJmLO

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 7, 2025

To concede just before halftime was a tough pill to swallow for Cavalry, who had otherwise defended well throughout the opening 45 minutes.

The Calgarians didn’t let the setback impede their second-half performance, however, and the hosts started strong after the restart.

Trafford equalized 10 minutes into the second half, ghosting into the six yard box unmarked to knock home an in-swinging corner kick from Ali Musse.

Charlie Trafford responds for Cavalry with a brilliant volley! ✨#ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Z047ntDaAC

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 7, 2025

Cavalry took control of the game after that, and in the 80th minute, Warschewski scored what proved to be the winner with a stunning solo effort.

After a cross to the back post from Musse was headed back inside by Jay Herdman, Warschewski controlled the ball with his back to goal, turned, and volleyed it through goalkeeper Alex Padilla’s legs.

“I don’t know, really, what happened,” confessed Warschewski, who was the CPL’s top goal scorer last season and the man of the match in Cavalry’s championship win over Forge. “Sometimes I just black out. I just touched it, finished it – I don’t know, really, how to explain it.”

While it was reviewed by VAR to ensure Warschewski wasn’t offside following Herdman’s header, the goal ultimately stood.

GOAL 🐎🐎@CPLCAVALRYFC TAKE THE LEAD ON AN UNBELIEVEABLE GOAL FROM TOBIAS WARSCHEWSKI 🐎#CanPL | 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/qMMr5eGbLP

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) February 7, 2025

After that, it was a matter of resolutely defending Pumas’ attack for the remainder of the match for Cavalry, who had to see off more than eight minutes of added time. To shore up the defence, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. brought on Fraser Aird, Tom Field and Jesse Daley, while also giving a brief cameo to newcomer Caniggia Elva, making his debut for his hometown club.

The two-legged tie will wrap up in Mexico City next Thursday at Pumas’ home ground, the 70,000-capacity Estadio Universitario.

According to Warschewski, the stunning upset will give Cavalry a big confidence boost as they prepare for the second leg next week.

“I think we had confidence in this group,” the German said. “A lot of players came back, the whole squad is back. I think a lot of guys doubted us a little bit – no new players and this and that – but we try to (prove) them wrong and just have fun on the pitch.”