LANGFORD, B.C. – Two first-half goals by Joe Mason gave Cavalry FC a 2-1 victory over Pacific FC on Friday at Starlight Stadium in a battle between the top two teams in the Canadian Premier League.

Second-place Cavalry (7-3-3) extended its unbeaten run to four games and cut Pacific’s lead atop the CPL standings to one point. Cavalry has a game in hand.

Mason put the visitors up 2-0 with goals six minutes apart – in the 23rd and 29th minutes. Marco Carducci made six saves for the Calgary-based club.

Terran Campbell replied for Pacific (7-3-4) in the 83rd minute from the penalty spot after Nikolas Ledgerwood took down Olakunle Dada-Luke in the box.

The home team’s potential comeback took a hit when Gianni dos Santos was shown a red card, for a foul and abusive language, following a confrontation in the seconds leading up to the penalty.

Callum Irving stopped 4-of-6 shots for the home team.

Pacific had 61.1 per cent ball possession and outshot Cavalry 17-7 (7-6 in shots on target).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2021.