The report says Cavalry entered the second leg needing to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit. Rather than retreat, they produced an aggressive home display and created opportunities that could have made the closing stages considerably more dramatic.
“I thought we matched them with courage. We created so many big chances that - on another day - it's become a miracle,” Wheeldon said.
That assessment captures the fine margin between a respectable exit and a famous comeback. Cavalry could not force extra time, but their response should carry weight beyond this competition. Against an established Major League Soccer opponent, they played with the ambition expected from a team determined to make its mark domestically.
The match also brought Thomas Müller to Calgary for the first time. The report says the 36-year-old World Cup winner started for Vancouver and played almost 65 minutes, drawing supporters in Whitecaps and Germany shirts.
Attendance was reportedly 6,012, a Cavalry record for a Canadian Championship match, underlining the occasion’s importance to the club and the wider Canadian football scene.
“It was an honour to play against someone like Thomas Müller, but he's also a great character,” Wheeldon said.
Cavalry now have to turn an impressive performance into momentum. The Canadian Championship opportunity has gone, but the next league fixture will reveal whether this display becomes a footnote or the foundation for a stronger run ahead.