The improbable march to the Canadian Championship final came up just short for the Cavalry.
Anthony Jackson scored in the 13th minute and the Montreal Impact held on for the 1-0 victory, 3-1 on aggregate, to knock off Cavalry FC in the Canadian Championship semifinal in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,633 Wednesday night at Spruce Meadows' ATCO Field.
"I'm immensely proud of this group of players and this football club," said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. "We talked about in the locker-room how we're going to give everything we have and we've left there with exactly that.
"It was a tale of a set-piece either way because if we scored it and they didn't we're going through.
"We've played four games against MLS competition, more established clubs and they've been one goal games. That shows the strength that we have and we're less than 100 days old. You give me another 100 days and see where we're at."
Montreal held a 2-1 edge on aggregate after the first leg, Aug. 7 at Stade Saputo. With a late away goal, the Cavalry were in striking distance entering the rematch.
The visitors didn't waste any time getting its own crucial away goal in leg two.
On a corner in the 13th minute Jackson won a battle in the box and headed the ball past Marco Carducci in goal.
"When you score an away goal in a cup game it's always very important," said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. "We knew that probably we would need to score at least one ... We knew because of the field, because of the way they can play here we would have time under pressure.
"But I would like to congratulate my team because today we fought as a team, we fought on every ball. We knew it was going to be this kind of game."
The Cavs nearly got back on even terms within six minutes on a corner of their own with Dominick Zator's header being well saved on a big leap and fingertips save from Impact goalkeeper Clement Diop.
Zator had a brilliant opportunity to even the score right at the end of the half when his shot inside the tightly packed box just sailed over the goal.
After falling behind, the Cavalry had control of most of the opening half with 57 per cent possession along with nine shots on target compared to just four for the visitors.
In the second half, the Impact looked to add to the lead on the counter.
Elusive forward Maxi Urruti had the best chance to double the lead on the break only to have Cavs centre back Mason Trafford prevent the breakaway with a burst of speed in the 68th minute.
Sixteen-year-old Aribim Pepple came on in the 79th minute and didn't look out of place nearly connecting on a corner and free kick using his 6-foot-1 frame.
The team's best chance came just seconds before the final whistle when Dominique Malonga's bicycle kick attempt bounced right to Jay Wheeldon for a clear chance turned aside by Diop in stoppage-time.
"It's strange, that's one of the only games where we haven't managed to score," said Trafford. "It felt like we had more long throws, more set plays which was a big part of our game plan tonight. We did everything but score.
"With the crowd it felt like they were going to suck the ball into the back of the net and for whatever reason it just didn't go in tonight."
Both lineups saw a number of changes due to both injury and suspension.
Cavs captain Nik Ledgerwood sat out the contest due to receiving two yellow cards in the first leg, attacker Jordan Brown was sidelined due to injury. The Impact saw a number of key absentees on the injured list, led by captain and top scorer Ignacio Piatti and Canadian international central midfielder Samuel Piette.
The lack of lighting at the pitch, felt particularly in the second half, was a talking point in the post-match press conference.
When asked on the impact of the darkness, Garde had strong words.
"I would like to congratulate everyone at this football club for amazing atmosphere, it's fantastic and very great for Canadian soccer," the coach said. "Honestly, I was very very surprised at the organization of this game was so poor in terms of light. For the integrity of the players honestly it was dangerous, of course it was the same for both teams. I'm not saying it was worse for us than for them, but honestly you couldn't play."
In the other Canadian Championship semifinal, the three-time defending champion Toronto FC dispatched Ottawa Fury 3-0 to win the tie 5-0 on aggregate.
The Cavs eliminated the Vancouver Whitecaps, Forge FC and Pacific FC to earn their way to the Canadian Championship semis.
Cavalry, the Canadian Premier League spring season champions, return to league play this week with the fall season heating up.
"It's phenomenal to be in the fight," Wheeldon Jr. said. "We've also got another championship to prepare for at the end of the fall season."
The Cavalry are back on the ATCO Field pitch two more times in the next seven days with CPL tilts against FC Edmonton and York 9 on Aug. 16 and Aug. 21, respectively.
For more information go to cavalryfc.canpl.ca
