Carducci for Canada: 4 Defining Moments in the CPL
August 28, 2019 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Cavalry FC News Release
Cavalry FC's Marco Carducci has made the first leap.
Canadian men's national team coach John Herdman called up the Cavs' star goalkeeper Wednesday for a pair of matches against Cuba in the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League. Canada will host at BMO Field in Toronto on Sept. 7 before heading to the Cayman Islands for a neutral venue encounter with the Cubans on Sept. 10.
Carducci is the first CPL player to get called up the Canadian national team since the league kicked off in April.
Whether winning the Spring season, taking down Vancouver Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship or leading the Volkswagen Premier Performer index, Carducci has clearly emerged as a top talent in the four months since the CPL began.
To understand how he got to be one of three goalkeepers called up Wednesday, let's take a look back at his 2019 CPL campaign...
Early in the Spring campaign, when CPL players were largely known for their past, ex-Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Marco Carducci was part of stable of Calgary Foothills players making the jump to the pro ranks after a PDL Championship in 2018. After three wins from three to start the season, the Cavs were starting to pull ahead in the 10-match Spring sprint.
On May 18 at Spruce Meadows, Cavalry faced FC Edmonton in the first Al Classico. Rivalry aside, this match was an important one for Cavalry's Spring hopes. While Jordan Brown played hero at one end, Carducci did the dirty work at the other. This save on Marcus Velado-Tsegaye brought the home crowd to their feet. With Velado-Tsegaye's attempt trickling towards the post, Carducci switches his balance, leaping and stretching to tip it wide.
It was enough to keep the Eddies at bay and give Cavalry a win in the inaugural all-Alberta tilt.
Spring-clinching clean sheet (Spring season, June 26)
After dropping a potentially Spring title-clinching match to Forge FC (Kyle Bekker's screamer was their only shot on target), Carducci and his cohorts travelled to York Region looking to seal the deal. What proceeded was an aesthetically-pleasing result at both ends for Cavalry, claiming the Spring crown with a 2-0 win.
Forced to make five saves, the 22-year-old also hinted at a calming presence at the back, completing a team-leading 39 passes on route to earning the Spring title and the right to pose as he did in the picture above.
Leg 1, second half against Whitecaps (CanChamp Round 3, July 10)
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