Tough 2025 ending for Tigres, before meeting Forge here in February
In a riveting display of high-tension football, Forge FC’s upcoming Champions Cup opponents were edged out of the Mexican Premier League’s championship final—via a marathon penalty shootout—late Sunday night.
First-place Toluca scored on its 12th penalty shot to defeat Los Tigres UANL after the teams had played through two dramatic games, plus 30 minutes of overtime play, at 2-2 on aggregate.
Los Tigres went up 1-0 Thursday at home in Monterrey, and scored the first goal in just the 14th minute of the return match at Toluca’s stadium in Mexico Sunday, but the home team rallied for goals in the 40th and 51st minutes. They had 11 shots on net to just four for the visitors, whose opener came off a deflection; they possessed the ball 67 per cent of the time and earned 11 corner kicks during the game, while Los Tigres had five.
In penalty kicks, the teams went through their entire eligible list—including missed shots by both goalkeepers—tied 8-8 in successful shots before former Atlético Madrid winger Ángel Correa, who had scored the only goal in the first game, had his low shot saved by keeper Luis Garcia moving to his right. Alexis Vegas then won the title with his second goal of penalty kicks. He scored the first and last goals in penalty kicks. The combined 24 penalty kicks were the most ever in a Liga MX final.
Toluca, which had finished first during the regular season and won last year’s Clausura (second) title, now has 12 total Liga MX titles, tied with Chivas for second, behind América’s 16. The Tigres are tied for fifth overall with eight league titles. Toluca is the fourth team in 29 years to put together back-to-back league championships.
Choinière earned his place in Hamilton sports history
David Choinière is returning home after a brilliant seven-year career with Forge and becomes the second player in CPL history to be the first signing with a league expansion club after also playing in another club’s first-ever CPL game.
The native of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, who essentially grew up in CF Montréal’s academy with his younger brother Mathieu, joined fellow Québec players Loic Kwemi and Sean Rea when FC Supra du Québec – which will play out of the Montréal suburb of Laval — unveiled the first three signings last Wednesday night.
Signed by Forge in February of 2019, a few weeks before the CPL’s inaugural season opener, Choinière was one of the greatest players in Hammers’ history and acquired the nickname Big Game Dave for his important goals. Still only 28, the winger made 191 appearances for Forge in his seven years here, scored 31 goals and 21 assists, won four league championships and two CPL Shields, was in the league final six straight years, scored the decisive goal in the inaugural CPL championship game, scored Hamilton’s first Concacaf series-winning goal, and was the first CPL player ever to score a goal in Champions Cup.
“Forge means a lot to me,” Choinière said last week.
“I spent seven years here and grew so much as a person and as a player. This club has been my home and it will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Head Coach and Sporting Director Bobby Smyrniotis said, “He was a day-one player and one of the cornerstones of how we started. Over his seven years he lived through all the big moments of the club and has been at the forefront of so many of them.”
Ben Fisk was the first CPL player to play in one club’s inaugural game and also be the first signing by an expansion team. He was with Pacific FC for its opening match in 2019 and was the first-ever signing by Atlético Ottawa in March of 2020.
Bruno to help National U-20s in Concacaf and Olympic qualifiers
Forge rookie midfielder Zayne Bruno, who was in the starting lineup for April’s season-opener against Cavalry FC, will be in Costa Rica this week as part of Canada’s U-20 men’s national team.
Canada plays Costa Rica in friendlies this Thursday and Saturday at Alajuela, Costa Rica, to prepare for the February Concacaf U-20 qualifier which will determine the region’s representatives for the 2027 U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. In those qualifiers, which open Feb. 24, Canada will join Aruba, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Martinique and Nicaragua in Group F.
Other CPL players named to Canada’s squad include midfielder Emrick Fotsing of Vancouver FC and Ottawa defender Sergei Kozolovskiy.
Bruno, who turns 19 in January, was suspended for a second yellow card in the season-opening win over Cavalry FC—the second foul seemed like a harsh call against a player in his first pro game, especially in a heated rivalry match—and appeared in four other league games for the Hammers, while dressing for eight more.
He scored Canada’s only goal for the National Men’s U-19 team in a 4-1 loss to Finland Sept. 5. Canada also lost 4-1 to the Swiss two days later.
A native of Brampton, Bruno signed a CPL developmental contract in 2024, played for League1 affiliate Sigma FC and joined Forge on an Exceptional Development Contract earlier this year and became the youngest player on the roster. Before making the big club in 2025 he was with Sigma’s League1 team in 2024 and also suited up for four friendlies with Forge.
“Zayne’s done the job both on and off the field for us and it’s fantastic to see him get the opportunity to represent our country at the highest level,” says Jelani Smith, Forge’s Director of Soccer Operations. “He’s an aggressive forward-moving defender and we’ve had the luxury of having so many talented GTA players at our disposal coming through the Sigma Academy. There’s been a good pipeline along with guys like Hoce Massunda and Dino Bontis.”
CPL Best XI recognizes outstanding Forge season
Reflecting a record-breaking season, the CPL named five Hammers to the league’s 2025 Best XI.
This was the most of any club on the year’s all-star team, which takes into consideration both the regular season and playoffs.
Keeper Jassem Koleilat, who was the CPL’s Golden Glove award-winner, was joined by teammates Daniel Nimick, who was the CPL’s Defender of the Year, fellow defender Rezart Rama, skilled attacking midfielder Nana Ampomah, and captain Kyle Bekker, who was named to his third straight Best XI.