Just three days before our 2024 Major League Soccer campaign gets underway, Orlando City SC are set to experience a super unique away day as they visit Langford, British Columbia to take on Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League in Round One of the newly rebranded 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The first of two legs to determine who will face Tigres UANL in the Round of 16, this is City’s second successive appearance in North America’s premier club competition. This time, the Lions have been spared the brutal sub-zero February temperatures of Calgary, Alberta with the game being moved from ATCO Field to Starlight Stadium due to understandable pitch concerns.
Orlando City SC got here by virtue of being the next-best club in the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Impressively finishing runners-up to the outstanding FC Cincinnati, City have another opportunity to make a big continental statement.
Drawn against Cavalry FC back on December 13, City supporters would’ve hurriedly been Googling ‘thick winter coats’ and ‘gloves’ online.
After all, the city of Calgary experiences freezing average temperatures between -1°C and -11°C in February.
However, after the December 15 announcement of the venue change to Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia, supporters can expect warmer average temperatures between 2°C and 7°C in February – albeit still cold!
A super unique experience for Orlando City SC, Cavalry FC will also sample the warmer climes of Central Florida.
That said, February’s heat and humidity will not be as intense as the temperature on Vancouver Island.
For those travelling to Starlight Stadium – home of CPL club Pacific FC – the venue holds a capacity of 6,000 spectators.
As for Cavalry FC’s on-field pedigree, the club still await their first Canadian Premier League championship – the North Star Cup.
However, they are two-time winners of the CPL Shield.
This is awarded to the CPL team that has earned the most points during the regular season.
Contesting the North Star Cup twice, in 2019 (two legs) and 2023 (one leg), Cavalry FC met Hamilton’s Forge FC both times.
In a young league, Forge FC have been a juggernaut, winning four of the five CPL seasons so far.
Ultimately, the North Star Cup is a frustrating topic of conversation for Cavalry FC supporters.
A title that continues to elude Cavalry FC, they have ironically been regular season specialists over the last five years.
They just can’t seem to get over the line in the post-season – to their supporters’ anguish and frustration.
On the touchline, 44-year-old Englishman Tommy Wheeldon Jr. is Cavalry FC head coach.
Hailing from Liverpool, Wheeldon Jr. has been at the helm since the club’s inauguration back in May 2018.
To Cavalry FC what Adrian Heath was to Orlando City SC, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. is a lifelong Everton supporter too.
Roster-wise, Cavalry FC’s star man is probably 26-year-old New Zealand international striker Myer Bevan.
Scoring 11 goals in 2023, Bevan was the joint top goalscorer in the Canadian Premier League last season.
Other notable members of Cavalry FC’s current squad include goalkeeper Marco Carducci and number 10 Sergio Camargo.
Both experienced players, the pair have been with the club since their inaugural CPL season in 2019.
Elsewhere, British football fans may be familiar with former Brentford full back Tom Field and the versatile Fraser Aird.
Aird is a former Canadian international who made 62 league appearances for Glasgow giants Rangers between 2012 and 2017.
Compared to our short-lived 2023 CONCACAF Champions League campaign where City were eliminated from the Round of 16 by tournament favourites Tigres UANL – albeit valiantly via the away goals rule – Orlando City SC are entering the competition a round earlier this year.
As mentioned at the outset, the winner of this two-legged Round One tie will face Tigres UANL or Vancouver Whitecaps in the Round of 16.
This means we could be set for the same Round of 16 matchup as City experienced last year.
Whilst they are not in the same section, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are on the same side of the bracket as Orlando City SC.
This means the Lions could potentially meet The Herons at the semi-final stage.
Elsewhere, Orlando City SC have already contested their strategically-timed FC Series 2024 friendly against Flamengo back on January 27.
Finishing 1-1, this provided the Lions ample preparation for this 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup away test.
Compared to years gone by, MLS sides no longer have to contest CONCACAF Champions Cup fixtures way before the start of the regular season.
This means City should be fresher, prepared, and fully up for the challenge against Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s side.
Who will come out on top in this first leg of Canada versus the United States?
We’re poised and desperately eager to find out!
Cavalry FC vs Orlando City SC
2023 stats
- This is the first time the clubs have faced each other
- Prior to this two-legged tie, Orlando have won 19 and lost 14 knockout fixtures since 2015*†
- Both sides have scored in 5 of Orlando’s last 10 knockout fixtures**
- Cavalry FC went 16-7-5 in their 2023 Canadian Premier League regular season, losing the fewest games (5) of all 8 teams
- Orlando have only scored 3 goals in their last 6 knockout fixtures**
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Key
* Our two victories (1-0 and 0-1) over Nashville SC in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Best-of-3 series have been counted as one win
† Our two-legged defeat to Tigres UANL (0-0 and 1-1) in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 has been counted as one loss
** Excludes game one of our 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Best-of-3 series against Nashville SC
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Watching the game
Cavalry FC vs Orlando City SC will be streamed live on the CONCACAF YouTube channel at 03:00 (GMT) on Thursday, February 22.
Subscribe (for free) now by clicking here.
Click here for the Cavalry FC vs Orlando City SC YouTube live stream link.
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