| Final Score: Forge FC 2-0 Atlético Ottawa Goalscorers: Bekker 24', Wright 55' Game of the 2025 season: 75 CPL Match: 670 |
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Match in a minute or less
Forge FC are now four points clear at the top of the Canadian Premier League table, after they beat second-place Atlético Ottawa 2-0 at Hamilton Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Hammers were in charge from kickoff, and in the 24th minute they opened the scoring as captain Kyle Bekker smashed a ball from just outside the box into the far corner.
After a string of other dangerous Forge chances, Brian Wright added the second early in the second half, finishing from a one-on-one situation with the keeper for his eighth CPL goal of the year.
Ottawa's best chance of the game was late in the contest as Ballou Tabla won a penalty, but Tabla skied the spot kick and Atleti were unable to score as it ended 2-0.
With this win, Forge find themselves unbeaten in 23 games in all competitions, including 19 to start the 2025 CPL season.
Three Observations
Forge make firm statement in top-of-the-table battle
With these two sides separated by just one point heading into this game — Forge on top of the league with Ottawa just behind — it was always going to be a fierce battle between the CPL's two best teams this year.
For stretches of the match, it was just that: two top teams going toe-to-toe. Generally, though, one team looked more "top" than the other. The experienced Forge side, who have won so many trophies in the CPL, were emphatic in claiming the spoils from this match and giving themselves a serious cushion atop the table.
Forge were in control of the game early and sent wave after wave of attack at Ottawa's end, generating seven shots (for 0.97 expected goals) in the first half, with 60.3 per cent possession. Although they would've wanted to bury more of their chances and put the game to bed much earlier, the hosts were overwhelming in attack and gave Atleti very little time on the ball.
It's been a remarkable week for Forge, who have hardly blinked at playing a 905 Derby, Canadian Championship semi-final, and top-of-the-table matchup all within seven days. They beat York United well, looked good against MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, and now delivered their best performance of the three in a pivotal game that may well set them on their way to winning the CPL Shield.
"It's the games where we're in cruise control, I seem to have the best job in the CPL," Forge keeper Jassem Koleilat quipped postmatch on Sunday. "I just stand there and watch a bunch of guys ball out."
Indeed, this was a game where Forge were reasonably comfortable the whole way through. Certainly, Ottawa had good moments, and pushed hard in the final 15 minutes; had they scored the penalty, this might've been a different story. However, Forge didn't look particularly worried.
This Hamilton side is now unbeaten in 23 games in all competitions, which is an outrageous feat at any level of football anywhere in the world. With just nine games left in the regular season, it's fair to ask: How far can they take this streak?
Disjointed, sluggish Atlético Ottawa can't find goal
The visiting side will leave Hamilton deeply disappointed with how they played in a match that could now define the CPL Shield race.
They seemed somewhat off the pace for much of the game, failing to connect passes in the attacking third or put the ball in the most dangerous areas.
At full time, Ottawa had generated just five shots (one on target) and 1.06 expected goals, of which 0.788 was the penalty.
In the final third is where things broke down most. For comparison, Forge attempted 116 passes in the final third, of which they completed 93 (80.2 per cent). Ottawa, meanwhile, attempted 62, and were only successful with 41 (66.1 per cent accuracy).
Credit is due to Forge for their defensive structure, which largely forced their opponents into wide areas and away from the box, but Atleti did generally look sluggish and less dangerous than usual. Even Bobby Smyrniotis suggested postgame that he thought Ottawa looked tired, which is no surprise considering how consistent the team's lineup has been for most of the season.
Ottawa coach Diego Mejía conceded in his postmatch comments that his side had been soundly beaten on Sunday. Though he felt they'd created some good chances, they were second-best throughout.
However, there's a lot he can take out of the performance, knowing there's at least one, if not several, more clashes with Forge on the horizon for the next couple of months.
"I learned a lot about this situation; there's a sentence in Mexico, even if you lose, you win," Mejía said. "I think I won a lot from this match because it gave me answers to improve."
Forge dictate game in midfield to suffocate with possession
Bobby Smyrniotis told OneSoccer in his pregame interview that he feels Forge have the best midfield in the league, and after this match it's hard to argue with him.
The trio of Kyle Bekker, Alessandro Hojabrpour and Tristan Borges — probably Forge's first-choice midfield — was outstanding on Sunday on both sides of the ball, and they're the main reason the team was able to dominate so much in this match.
Bekker, of course, scored the goal; occasionally, the Forge captain comes through with a hero moment like that, although in pretty much every other match he's still quietly excellent. He created two chances and had a 92.1 per cent passing accuracy in this game, playing a crucial role in progressing the ball between lines and pinning Atleti back.
Meanwhile, Hojabrpour did a phenomenal job in the middle winning the ball and breaking up Ottawa's attempts to play centrally; he won possession nine times, including twice in the attacking third, and was generally the main instrument of Forge's press. Borges also had an important role in the press, and he won all six of his attempted duels while also creating two chances.
The timing and structure of Forge's press from midfield is crucial to how Forge play, and it's an element of the game they've honed diligently this season.
"We work on it a lot in training, understanding moments, understanding when to be quick, when to be controlled, reading the triggers of the opponent," Bobby Smyrniotis explained when asked about his midfield. "We know Ottawa is a team that likes to press quick with five players, and you immediately just have to find the space either between the lines or so on.
"They know I like detail, and they enjoy it, and that's a great thing to have with players when they like the finer points of the game. That's what these guys are doing very good. Like I've told them, it's a privilege to be where you are, it's not your right, so you've just got to get back to it and work."
Forge make themselves very difficult to play against because it's near-impossible for an opposing side to set the tempo of a game, or establish build-up play through midfield.
What They Said
"The execution was fantastic. It's a tough week, you've had a tough match at York and you spin to the cup game with the Whitecaps, and then you quickly have to get into this one. ... To be able to come into this third match and press the way the guys did, have stuck to a game plan; you would've liked to have a few more goals on the board, but it's three points, a couple of goals, a clean sheet at the back and I think for the most part a pretty complete performance." — Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"It's always like that when two teams at the top of the table go at it. I thought we took a little bit longer than we should have to get our feet going and find our form, but there's a reason why they're four-time champions. They stick to their model, and I guess today just wasn't our day." — Atlético Ottawa defender Brett Levis
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Alessandro Hojabrpour, Forge FC
The talented midfielder helped set the tone for Forge with his ball distribution, creating one chance for Brian Wright and playing a team-high nine balls into the final third. Hojabrpour also won six out of seven duels, won possession nine times and helped clean things up at the back with three clearances.
What’s next?
Next up for Forge is a Friday night trip to the west coast, where they'll take on Vancouver FC on Aug. 22 (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). Ottawa return home for a Saturday night fixture the following day, when they'll play Cavalry FC at TD Place (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT).
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