It's been a while since we've done one of these, but with so much going on the past few weeks, it's time to dive back in as we approach the homestretch of the 2025 Canadian Premier League season.
There's a new leader in the CPL Shield race, as Forge FC officially sit one point ahead of Atlético Ottawa to take first place for the first time since Matchweek 2.
The Hammers got things going in Week 17 with a resounding 5-0 win over Valour FC, their second such result against the Winnipeggers this year — and the largest home win in club history.
Atleti, meanwhile, couldn't solve York United, as a staggering 74 per cent possession still led to a 0-0 draw. The Nine Stripes, now up into fourth, now find themselves unbeaten in seven league matches, their longest such streak since 2021.
On the holiday Monday, Vancouver FC stunned the Halifax Wanderers with a 2-1 win in Nova Scotia, giving them their first win under coach Martin Nash. A tough result at home for Halifax, but in better news, they set a new club record for attendance with 7,143 at the Wanderers Grounds.
Finally, Pacific FC snatched victory in the 92nd minute at home against Cavalry FC thanks to a Sean Young goal. It's not the first time the Tridents have claimed points late in a match; they've picked up five of their 15 total points (33.3 per cent) thanks to goals after the 90th minute.
Here's how the table looks after 17 games for all eight clubs:
So, with 11 matches to play, there are a few races to keep an eye on, particularly at the top. Forge and Atlético, separated by just one point, will be scrapping tooth-and-nail for that CPL Shield over the next couple months. They play each other soon on Aug. 17, and after two draws between them this year, a win for either side could make or break this title race.
All of a sudden, there's a serious fight in the middle of the table between Cavalry, York and Halifax, all of which will be keen on trying to crack into that top two. The Cavs remain third at the moment, but after three straight defeats, they might be vulnerable to a red-hot York United.
Don't forget: finishing third is pretty valuable in its own right, because that side avoids the midweek fourth-versus-fifth playoff match at the beginning of the postseason. York United know all about that, having played in that Wednesday night clash two years in a row.
The three sides outside the playoff picture are struggling desperately to stay afloat; Vancouver FC's three points in Halifax over the weekend gave them a lifeline, but with a 13-point gap to fifth place, is the mountain already too tall?
Expect some heated battles this weekend in the CPL, with a couple of derby matches on the schedule as York host Forge and Vancouver host Pacific.
Awards Watch
Let's start with the Coach of the Year race. Obviously, Diego Mejía and Bobby Smyrniotis have been the most-discussed names in this conversation, but it's time to bring Mauro Eustáquio into the mix. The York United boss has them on an upward trajectory, seriously frustrating Ottawa in a 0-0 draw over the weekend. The Nine Stripes are unbeaten in seven and suddenly find themselves level on points with third place, after they spent so long stuck in fifth, equidistant from fourth and sixth.
The cast of candidates for U-21 Canadian Player of the Year remains strong, especially after another clean sheet for Ottawa's young defenders. Matteo Campagna, however, could be a dark horse for Vancouver; he scored his first pro goal in their win over Halifax on Monday, and he leads all U-21 players in minutes played.
U-21 Minutes Update
Every single CPL team is well on its way to reaching the 2,000-minute plateau, with the Halifax Wanderers likely next in line. They're getting lots of contributions from Tiago Coimbra at the moment, and they may need some more from Alessandro Biello now that Adam Pearlman has hit 1,000 minutes, and thus can't contribute anymore to their total as he's a loan player.
Likewise, Valour's Kelsey Egwu has hit his 1,000 minutes ceiling, so his further games played won't be counted here. That's why it's great for the Winnipeggers that Myles Morgan is getting more comfortable in the squad, and could get some more starts soon.
| Team | U-21 Minutes |
|---|---|
| Atlético Ottawa | 5,330 |
| Vancouver FC | 4,777 |
| Cavalry FC | 2,953 |
| Pacific FC | 2,120 |
| Halifax Wanderers FC | 1,838 |
| Valour FC | 1,768 |
| Forge FC | 1,560 |
| York United FC | 1,529 |
Coming up next…
Saturday, Aug. 9
York United vs. Forge FC — 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT (Live on TSN3)
Cavalry FC vs. Halifax Wanderers — 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Sunday, Aug. 10
Valour FC vs. Atlético Ottawa — 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Vancouver FC vs. Pacific FC — 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
(Watch all games live on OneSoccer. and this week watch York United vs. Forge FC on TSN3.)
Photo of the Week
For(g)e! Mo Babouli was one of five different players to join the party in Hamilton this weekend.
