https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:23:22 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-announce-2024-cpl-season-schedule Tue, 23 Jan 2024 17:30:53 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-announce-2024-cpl-season-schedule forgefc.canpl.ca/schedule. Forge FC's journey to top the 2024 regular season standings, lift the Canadian Premier League Shield and earn an automatic berth in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup will begin on Saturday, April 13 and wrap up on Saturday, October 19. All eight CPL clubs will kick off simultaneously on the final day of the season, jockeying for playoff position in what promises to be a thrilling regular season finale. Forge FC's 2024 regular season schedule will once again feature 28 matches played from coast to coast. The club will compete with all seven of its opponents twice at home and twice on the road over the course of the season, for 14 home matches and 14 away matches. This year will mark the third time the CPL officially recognizes a regular season winner, after Commissioner Mark Noonan instituted the honour in 2022. The league officially unveiled the Canadian Premier League Shield, the trophy awarded to the best team over its 28-game season, last fall, and will hand out the hardware for the second time in 2024. The top five teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the 2024 CPL Playoffs, where they will compete in the same electric postseason format introduced and contested by the league in 2023. The five-team format puts added emphasis on the regular season standings and gives an advantage to the teams that perform best over the 28-game schedule. For more information on the playoff structure, click here. Forge FC School Day Match Presented by Stelco On Tuesday, May 7 at 11 a.m. ET Forge FC will be hosting its first school day match at Tim Hortons Field. The Forge FC School Day Match will see active participation from school boards in the local area as Forge FC and Stelco aim to foster healthy, active, and engaged youth in both the local Hamilton community and neighbouring areas that transcend traditional classroom boundaries. Fans interested in Forge FC ticket information can click here or contact a ticket representative at 905-527-3674 or tickets@forgefootball.club. Fans of Forge FC won’t need to miss a moment of the club in action in 2024, thanks to WestJet, the league’s Official Airline and Vacation Partner, who is today launching an exclusive offer to make it easier for supporters to take their passion on the road and cheer on Forge FC this year. Visit insert westjet.com/CPL for 15 per cent off select base fares* for travel to any CPL market during the 2024 regular season (*terms and conditions apply), because WestJet knows there is nothing better than being there. The offer runs from January 23 to January 30, 2024. ]]> 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/highlights-forge-fc-1-1-valour-fc-2025-match-11 Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:57:23 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/highlights-forge-fc-1-1-valour-fc-2025-match-11 Valour FC have their first point of the 2025 season, as they and Forge FC split the points at Hamilton Stadium on Saturday evening in an entertaining 1-1 draw. The home side opened the match with a few dangerous ventures into the attacking half, but Valour quickly became more comfortable, stringing together a series of chances. They produced five shots in the first 10 minutes, and in the 11th minute their sixth attempt found the back of the net. Kris Twardek managed to bring the ball down at the edge of the six-yard box with a challenge in the air and an overhead kick to send it rolling across goal. Shaan Hundal was in good position on the doorstep to redirect it over the line, as Valour took an early 1-0 lead. Valour continued to probe throughout the first half, although they did not seriously trouble the Forge goal again before the break; the two sides traded jabs and attempted to adapt to the swirling wind in Hamilton, which carried a number of long balls along unpredictable trajectories. Coming out of the break, a reinvigorated Forge sought to get back into the game. They needed just five minutes to find their equalizer, as the ball fell in the box to Mo Babouli who tried to shoot but had his attempt blocked. The ball deflected vertically and descended toward the crossbar, where goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi was unable to push it back up and out of play. Instead, it dropped right at the feet of Brian Wright, who made no mistake smashing the ball into an open net to make it 1-1. The match was fairly disjointed through the remainder of the second half, neither side looking particularly comfortable in possession. Forge had the better of the opportunities, including one around the hour mark that Wright headed just wide, but Valour continued looking for chances to stretch the hosts in transition. With less than 10 minutes to play, Forge thought they'd found their winning moment, as a bouncing ball in the box found the arm of Dante Campbell, earning the home side a penalty kick. Dan Nimick, who had such a strong record from the spot in his time in Halifax, stepped up to take it, and he drove a low shot to his left -- but Viscosi dived and knocked the ball away, saving Valour's hopes of a result. Forge remained dangerous in the dying stages, and David Choinière put one just inches over the bar with his head deep into stoppage time, but neither they nor Valour could break the deadlock. So, the draw became the first blemish in Forge’s record as their unbeaten streak to start the season nonetheless continued. Valour, meanwhile, added their first point to their ledger ahead of next weekend’s home opener in Winnipeg.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Forge FC: Koleilat; Kane (Rama 78'), Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremović; Jensen (Paton 78'), Hojabrpour, Bekker; Ampomah (Borges 67'), Wright (Filion 78'), Babouli (Choinière 53') Valour FC: Viscosi; Fernandez, Romeo, Facchineri, Antonoglou; Ohin, Figueiredo (Campbell 71' (Mlah 90+5')); Twardek, Ressurreição (Venâncio 71'), Faria; Hundal (Morgan 88')

Goals

12' -- Shaan Hundal (Valour FC) 50' -- Brian Wright (Forge FC)

Discipline

37' -- Yellow: Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC) 45' -- Raphael Ohin (Valour FC) 82' -- Shaan Hundal (Valour FC) 89' -- Myles Morgan (Valour FC)]]> 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/highlights-pacific-fc-0-2-forge-fc-2025-match-5 Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:09:37 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/highlights-pacific-fc-0-2-forge-fc-2025-match-5 For a second straight year, Forge FC have opened their Canadian Premier League season with consecutive wins, as they defeated Pacific 2-0 at Starlight Stadium on Saturday. After lifting the CPL Shield as regular season champions in 2024, it's a strong sign of intent from Forge, who took care of business against a Pacific team who themselves were looking to make it two wins from two after also winning on opening day. Returning to this game, Forge came out strongly from the first minute, as they looked to build off their 1-0 win vs. Cavalry last weekend. Because of that, Brian Wright had a glorious chance to open the scoring for Forge in the 4th minute, as Nana Ampomah found him with a perfect ball into the box, but Wright sent his shot well over the goal from close range. Soon after, Mo Babouli had a great chance in the 21st minute, as Tristan Borges found him with a nice ball into the box, but he sliced his half-volley wide of the goal from the edge of the six-yard box. Then, Ampomah almost found a goal on an attempt of his own, as he sent a cross that nearly snuck in the near post, forcing a good save out of Pacific's Max Anchor. Attempting to punish Forge for their earlier misses, Pacific nearly capitalized on one of their mistakes in the 31st minute. After picking off a sloppy pass from Khadim Kane in Forge's half, Marco Bustos decided to attempt a chip on Jassem Koleilat, but his shot would sail harmlessly over Forge's goal. Eventually, Forge's pressure would result in an opening goal, however, and it came at a perfect time for them. After a creative set-piece routine at the edge of the box, the ball was headed into the path of Khadim Kane by Dan Nimick, and Kane did the rest from there, slotting home his first professional goal with a cool finish to make it 1-0. Doing well to pick up where they left off in the first half, Forge almost made it 2-0 in the 60th minute. After a nice run by Ampomah, he found Kyle Bekker at the edge of the box, and Bekker fired a thunderous shot that clattered onto the crossbar, before Anchor swatted the subsequent rebound out for a corner. Forge would make the most of that resulting set-piece, however - there, Borges found Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson at the near post with a perfect ball, and Achinioti-Jönsson did the rest, heading the ball into the top corner of the goal to make it 2-0. To Pacific's credit, they made things interesting late - a late flurry of set-pieces nearly yielded a goal, with Juan Quintana coming closest on a header in the last moments of the game, but Forge would hold on from there to get the victory.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Pacific FC: Anchor; Chung, Quintana, Machado, Greco-Taylor; Young (Keshavarz 74'), de Pauli (Ndom 74'); Bustos, Zanatta (Daniels 61'), Kratt (Toualy 74'); Heard Forge FC: Koleilat; Kane (Rama 80'), Nimick; Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremović; Hojabrpour, Bekker (Lipovschek 90'); Ampomah (Massunda 90'), Borges (Jensen (68'), Babouli; Wright (Filion 68')

Goals

44' -- Khadim Kane (Forge FC) 60' -- Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC)

Discipline

26' -- Yellow: Dario Zanatta (Pacific FC) 27' -- Yellow: Daniel de Pauli (Pacific FC) 75' -- Yellow: Juan Quintana (Pacific FC) 75' -- Yellow: Marko Jevremović (Forge FC) 86' -- Yellow: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)]]> 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/highlights-forge-fc-1-0-cavalry-fc-2025-match-2 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 01:46:33 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/highlights-forge-fc-1-0-cavalry-fc-2025-match-2 A 10-man Forge FC held on to pick up a 1-0 win over Cavalry FC at Hamilton Stadium on Saturday as the 2025 regular season winners got the better of last year's North Star Cup champions to secure all three points on opening week. The two combatants from the 2024 Canadian Premier League final, now locked in this season-opening rematch, didn't let off even one bit when it came to the sort of fiery football we've come to expect from this rivalry, with both sides trading early jabs and looks at goal in their hunt for an opening effort. Almost predictably, it was Cavalry FC striker Tobias Warschewski who got the first great look at goal of the match, getting on the end of a cross for an unmarked header, which Jassem Koleilat heroically saved off the line in the 27th minute. Brian Wright also had a sniff at Marco Carducci's goal moments later, but his shot hit the side netting. So, 45 minutes and change of opening half football could hardly separate these two title contenders, with the state line shared in a near 50-50 split in almost every category, and the crowd at Hamilton Stadium turned their attention to the second half in the hope of seeing a match winner – or, at least, avoiding a goal conceded without answer. Though both teams stayed in the referee's good books in the first half, it would take just three minutes into the second before the first yellow card was brandished as young Zayne Bruno hit Jay Herdman with a crunching tackle. Ten minutes later, and the advantage was found, as Marko Jevremović sent in an inch-perfect cross for Mo Babouli, whose glancing header sailed right past the fingertips of an outstretched Carducci to give Forge FC a 1-0 lead over Cavalry FC. Forge's confidence took a hit in the 72nd minute as Bruno picked up a second yellow for bowling over Sergio Camargo on a challenge for an air ball and was ejected from the match, giving Cavalry FC a man advantage for the final stanza of this back-and-forth battle. Yet, ironically, it was a Forge player who came closest to undoing their 1-0 lead as substitute Ben Paton failed to clear a cross and tested his 'keeper into making a huge save to prevent an own goal in the 87th minute. Try as Cavalry might to find an equalizer, Forge's backline held firm for the 1-0 win, even surviving a late flurry as Koleilat stood on his head and preserved his clean sheet in dramatic fashion. And so, head coaches Bobby Smyrniotis and Tommy Wheeldon Jr. co-signed the latest chapter in this historic Canadian soccer rivalry with an all-too-familiar customary handshake – Bobby getting the last laugh on this day... but just for now.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Forge FC: Koleilat; Bruno, Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremovic; Hojabrpour, Bekker, Jensen (Paton, 81'); Choinière (Ampomah, 81'), Wright (Filion, 81'), Babouli (Kane, 81') Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Montgomery, Field, Kamdem (Gherasimencov, 77'); Shome (Elva, 77'), Myroniuk (Baldisimo, 65'); Musse, Camargo, Herdman (Wahling, 65'); Warschewski

Goals

58' -- Mo Babouli (Forge FC)

Discipline

48' -- Yellow: Zayne Bruno (Forge FC) 53' -- Yellow: Bradley Kamdem (Cavalry FC) 72' -- 2nd Yellow (Red): Zayne Bruno (Forge FC) 90' -- Yellow: Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)]]> 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/home-opener-pennant-giveaway Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:06:49 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/home-opener-pennant-giveaway 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/malik-owolabi-belewu-addresses-media-ahead-of-match-vs-valour-fc Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:41:39 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/malik-owolabi-belewu-addresses-media-ahead-of-match-vs-valour-fc 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-loan-in-mexican-defender-daniel-parra-from-cf-monterrey-2 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:24:53 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-loan-in-mexican-defender-daniel-parra-from-cf-monterrey-2 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-training-camp-presented-by-westjet Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:16:50 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-training-camp-presented-by-westjet 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/post-match-press-conference-forge-fc-at-c-d-guadalajara-bobby-smyrniotis Wed, 14 Feb 2024 23:39:19 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/post-match-press-conference-forge-fc-at-c-d-guadalajara-bobby-smyrniotis 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/post-match-press-conference-forge-fc-vs-c-d-guadalajara-bobby-smyrniotis Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:20:35 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/post-match-press-conference-forge-fc-vs-c-d-guadalajara-bobby-smyrniotis 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-vs-c-d-guadalajara-pre-match-press-conference Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:15:48 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-vs-c-d-guadalajara-pre-match-press-conference 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-sign-nana-opoku-ampomah Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:06:00 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-sign-nana-opoku-ampomah 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/elimane-cisse-returns-to-forge-fc-on-a-multi-year-deal Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:00:40 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/elimane-cisse-returns-to-forge-fc-on-a-multi-year-deal 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-pro-combine-spark-your-soccer-career Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:00:59 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-pro-combine-spark-your-soccer-career 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-re-signs-former-defender-of-the-year-alexander-achinioti-jonsson-to-multi-year-deal Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:00:24 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/forge-fc-re-signs-former-defender-of-the-year-alexander-achinioti-jonsson-to-multi-year-deal 10 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/school-day-match-presented-by-stelco Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:00:31 +0000 https://forgefc-archive.canpl.ca/video/school-day-match-presented-by-stelco