Eagles Held to Scoreless Draw in Kelowna The Chilliwack Eagles suffered a disappointing result in Kelowna on Sunday afternoon, being held to a 0-0 draw by the Kelowna Rockets. Despite controlling much of the play and generating numerous scoring chances throughout the game, the Eagles were unable to find the back of the net. The Rockets’ goalie, Talyn Boyko, stood tall between the pipes, making several key saves to keep his team in the game. The Eagles outshot the Rockets 28-20, but they were unable to convert on their power play opportunities, going 0-for-5 with the man advantage. The draw extends the Eagles’ winless streak to three games (0-2-1). They currently sit in second place in the B.C. Division with a record of 22-15-3-2. The Eagles will look to bounce back on Wednesday night when they host the Victoria Royals at the Chilliwack Coliseum.Vancouver FC and Cavalry FC Play to a Draw on CPL On Tour in Kelowna
Vancouver FC and Cavalry FC Play to a Draw on CPL On Tour in Kelowna The first CPL On Tour match took place on Sunday, with Vancouver FC facing Cavalry FC in a somewhat subdued Kelowna, BC. With over 6,000 spectators in attendance, the two sides failed to break the deadlock over 90 minutes, resulting in a 0-0 draw and a share of the spoils. Impressive First Half from The Eagles Despite Kelowna not being their usual home court, Vancouver started the match with an inspired performance in the first 45 minutes. Afshin Ghotbi included several surprise picks in the starting lineup, including 2024 CPL Draft Pick Thomas Powell, while David Norman Jr. made his return after a long injury break. Vancouver FC did not dominate possession but controlled the transition against Cavalry. The Eagles found numerous holes behind Calgary’s defense, allowing them to attack with speed along the wings. Mikael Cantave was particularly dangerous in the first half, bombing down the left side and causing problems for Fraser Aird and Daan Klomp. Renan Garcia and Vasco Fry were also instrumental for Vancouver in those periods, their movement and passing helping Vancouver break through, while their defensive work rate helped the team regain possession and attack. However, the most impressive performance came from newcomer Thomas Powell. While slightly sloppy in possession, the Coquitlam, BC native brought energy and spark to Vancouver’s offense, piling on pressure throughout the first half. “I thought he had a very good performance for his first start in our team,” Ghotbi said of Powell’s debut. “I just want him, when he’s in the final third, to be more adventurous and more courageous, and I think that part will come with more confidence.” It was a positive sight for Ghotbi to see some of the more fringe players perform well when called upon, as the season is long and everyone must contribute to challenge at the top. Shooting Woes for Both Teams A 0-0 scoreline is not ideal when trying to entertain and convince a large crowd to support local Canadian Premier League football, but the match was not without its dramatic moments. Vancouver FC had the best chances of the evening, specifically Mexican forward Alejandro Diaz. Towards the end of the first half, Diaz inexplicably missed two great scoring opportunities. A rare mistake from Marco Carducci allowed Vancouver to regain possession in Calgary’s penalty area, with Cantave dispossessing the keeper. Diaz found himself with the goal at his mercy but sailed his shot wide of the target. Less than four minutes later, a brilliant corner from Vasco Fry found Diaz in the center of the penalty area, but he inexplicably headed the ball wide of the goal line despite having a close-range chance. Vancouver FC could easily have been a goal or two ahead at halftime, but their missed opportunities gave Cavalry the comfort to get back into the game and threaten to take the lead. Cavalry nearly did just that eleven minutes into the second half. Lleyton Brooks took advantage of a cross from Aird and headed point-blank towards Callum Irving’s goal. Despite the appearance of purpose, Irving somehow managed not only to stop it but also to hold onto the effort and extinguish the danger completely. Both sides tried to score the coveted opening goal, but neither side ultimately succeeded, much to the dismay of both coaches. “In my analysis, I think we created enough chances to win the match,” said an emotionally charged Ghotbi after the match. “We just missed the concentration you need to score goals.” “I think we got where we wanted to be (in the second half),” said Tommy Wheeldon Jr. after the match. “…(Lleyton) Brooksy got his chance, Fraser threw in some really good balls, but we just lacked that finish to kill the game.” Both teams will feel like they dropped points with the chances they had in the match, considering the combined xG was almost 2.5 goals. Nonetheless, the teams put on a good show for the new crowd in Kelowna. Kelowna for CPL Expansion? Speculation about the future of expansion in the CPL is ongoing. With only eight teams in the league since 2021, many fans are concerned that the league may be stagnating. Last night’s game was a teaser for potential expansion candidates, serving as a test to see if a city like Kelowna, long rumored to be an expansion site, had the interest and passion to support a professional football club. With a record crowd of 6,281 in attendance, it certainly passed that test. The stands bounced, and the crowd cheered, even in the absence of goals. For Tommy Wheeldon Jr., last night’s experiment was about the essence of this CPL On Tour competition. “I’m very, very grateful,” Wheeldon Jr. said when asked about being part of this CPL On Tour match. “This is part of the important ecosystem we are trying to create here. It’s about giving Canadians the opportunity to play, watch, support, and be part of this project from different places. I think it’s brilliant, and we’re very honored that we’ve been able to do this.” In a way, it was crucial that last night was a success. With the drama unfolding before the start of this CPL season, the league needed tangible reassurance for its fans regarding its growth path. Last night in Kelowna demonstrated the potential appeal of domestic professional football. The task now is to build on it, making it sustainable and thriving for years to come. “I think this project as a whole was very special,” Ghotbi said of the entire initiative. “There was a huge energy in this city and a huge love for the game.” Hopefully, the league can conduct more tours like this in the future to expose more potential expansion cities to the experience of having their own professional soccer league in their backyard. Because if the league wants to become a mainstay in Canadian sports, it needs all the passionate eyeballs it can get across the country.
Eagles Held Scoreless In Draw In Kelowna The Richmond Eagles were held to a scoreless draw by the Kelowna Chiefs on Saturday night at the Rutland Arena in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Eagles had a few good chances to score in the first period, but Chiefs goaltender Jayden Sittler was there to make the saves. The Eagles also had a power play in the first period, but they were unable to convert. The second period was much the same as the first, with both teams having a few good chances to score, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. The Eagles had a few more chances to score in the third period, but Sittler was again there to make the saves. The Eagles also had a power play in the third period, but they were again unable to convert. The Eagles outshot the Chiefs 35-26, but Sittler was the difference in the game. He made several key saves to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. The Eagles will now return home to face the Surrey Eagles on Wednesday night at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
