CALGARY – In familiar fashion, it took almost the entire 90 minutes to find a result in the first instalment of the 2023-24 Crowchild Classic on Sunday at Dinosaur Field.

Abel Nesibu put home the lone goal of the match in the 88th minute to secure an opening-day 1-0 victory for the Mount Royal Cougars over the University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team.

"We're disappointed, we should have been a lot better in the final third. We created some chances but the execution let us down," said Dinos head coach Brendan O'Connell. "If they're ranked two and we're ranked six, I think we got a chance."

"They had their day today and we're bleeding a bit. I am pleased with how we played, but disappointed with the goal and the forward play."

Sunday's contest was the eighth consecutive match between the Dinos and Cougars to be decided by one goal. The two rivals met in Vancouver for the Canada West Semifinal last November where they needed 109 minutes to find a goal. That victory by Calgary ended an undefeated season for Mount Royal.

Following a quiet first 45 minutes on Sunday that saw a combined seven shots and none on goal, pressure began to mount and it was the Cougars who began to generate chances in the second half.

Taking over for long-time Dinos goalkeeper Jake Ruschkowski in the season opener was Liam Hunter. Also wearing the Calgary armband as team captain, Hunter made five saves and was only beaten in the final minutes of the match.

Joshua Flaksman ran down the left side and cut towards goal where he spotted Nesibu coming through the middle. The third-year midfielder eluded Hunter and got enough of a touch to put the ball into the net.

Aidan Dumoulin earned the win and finished with one save in the Cougars' net.

"We have been admired in the last few seasons for our warrior play. We are hard to break down and we are solid in the back," explained O'Connell. "It can be a bit risky, you can go long periods at 0-0 and the margins get tighter. Today those margins beat us."

Both Calgary and Mount Royal will face away games next weekend with trips to battle the Saskatchewan Huskies and Lethbridge Pronghorns.