Maël Henry’s first start of the year kick-started Cavalry FC.
His tap-in goal in the 23rd minute of Cavalry’s contest with host Vancouver FC late Friday was the first goal for the young midfielder on the campaign and — most importantly — the difference in the Canadian Premier League regular-season match at Willoughby Community Park Stadium in Langley, B.C.
“It’s been a difficult year for me with a lot of injuries,” Henry said. “But I’m really happy to be back in the squad and to have helped the team win with a goal.”
Diego Gutiérrez jumped on a misplay by a Vancouver defender and sauntered into the box, where he played it across the front of the goal for Henry to just walk the ball into the net.
The pass was slightly redirected by Vancouver goalkeeper Callum Irving, who couldn’t contain the ball on the scoring play.
“It’s been a season with a lot of draws,” Henry said. “And we’re happy to have the victory. Hopefully we can build around this victory, because for the table, it was a really important result.”
Henry nearly scored in the second half, to boot.
And newcomer Lowell Wright nearly did, too, but Irving made a tremendous save on the shot from the top of the arc from the newly signed Cavalry forward.
“I thought Maël was quality,” said Cavalry GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “He’s a talented player. And I thought the impact of Lowell Wright and Malcolm Shaw coming off the bench gave us something different.”
At the other end, Marco Carducci stopped all shots driven his way to get the clean-sheet — his league-leading fifth on the year — for visiting Cavalry.
It was only the Cavs’ second road victory of the season, but it rises them — with a 4W-9D-3L record — above Vancouver (5-5-5) into fourth place on the CPL table.
“‘What’s delayed is not denied,’ I think is a saying I’ve been using,” Wheeldon said. “It’s taken us a little bit longer (than last year) to get out of the pattern of draws and get back into the winning column.
“I told the lads when we hit the halfway (point), we’d go on a winning run. And I’ve said it publicly because I believe in the words and I believe in this group.”
Cavalry returns home to host Halifax Wanderers FC on Aug. 10 at Spruce Meadows (2 p.m., OneSoccer, OneSoccer.ca).
— Postmedia Network