Following a 3-1 win over Pacific FC at Clarke Field on Saturday, FC Edmonton now sits atop the Canadian Premier League table as the team prepares to take on second-place Cavalry FC.
The CPL’s next Battle of Alberta, or “Al Classico” as it has also been dubbed, takes place at Spruce Meadows on Friday night and takes on even more importance as league standings are becoming more critical by the day.
Cavalry FC clinched a spot in the 2019 CPL Championship by winning the league’s spring season. They’ll face the winner of the longer fall season in the championship game, or, if Cavalry FC win the fall season as well, they would play the team with the highest cumulative points total across both halves.
Over the weekend, FC Edmonton coach Jeff Paulus indicated he is happy his team is finding its feet in the fall season after a sometimes bumpy spring season.
READ MORE: FC Edmonton on fire and hope to stay undefeated in CPL’s fall season
Watch below: (From July 12, 2019) FC Edmonton have won four matches in a row and are undefeated in five.
“I believed in these players even when there was a lot of criticism early on about the team, or about me,” he said. “I’ve always believed in the players and I don’t worry about what’s said about this team.
“I’ll make my smart comments back…. I enjoy that side of it and that part of football.”
READ MORE: FC Edmonton signs longtime MLS midfielder Tony Tchani
Watch below: (From Aug. 8, 2019) FC Edmonton has a new face on the team’s roster. John Sexsmith tells us about the experienced midfielder they signed this week.
FC Edmonton striker Easton Ongaro, who scored a pair of goals against Pacific FC on Saturday, indicated he was impressed with his team’s recent offensive play.
“We never had movement like this at the start of the season,” Paulus said.
“Now you’re seeing us get the ball into good areas, we’re getting better chances and when we miss the goal now, at least we’re missing it from six yards out and not 26 yards out.”
Ongaro suggested the team was in a good place heading into the looming showdown with their provincial rivals.
“We’ve got some good momentum going and hopefully we can carry it through until Friday.”
Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ coverage of Cavalry FC in 2019.
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