| Final Score: Halifax Wanderers 1-2 Forge FC Goalscorers: Telfer 23'; Paton 7', Filion 88' Game of the 2025 season: 60 CPL Match: 656 |
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Match in a minute or less
Forge FC ended their three-year winless streak in Halifax and extended their unbeaten run to 16 in the league with a 2-1 victory over the Wanderers on Friday night.
Maxime Filion's 88th-minute header was the difference in another brilliantly contested match between the two sides. Ben Paton opened the scoring for Forge in the 7th minute with an outstanding strike from outside the box, before Ryan Telfer equalized in the 23rd minute with a lovely chip.
It was a third straight loss for the Wanderers, while for Forge they move into the league's top spot for the time being, ahead of Atlético Ottawa by two points.
Three Observations
Forge continue incredible road run with another dramatic victory
Last season, Forge FC did their best work in the fortress at Hamilton Stadium, winning 11 of 14 matches and the vast majority of their league-leading 50 points in 2024.
This year, however, during their incredible 16-match unbeaten run in the league, they have replicated that quality regardless of the pitch they play on this season.
At the Wanderers Grounds on Friday, on a pitch where they have struggled to pick up points, especially all three, in recent years, the Hamilton club found their league-leading fifth road win of the season. They also collected their 18th road point, which is two more than they had all of last season away from home.
On Friday, despite being second best during long stretches of the match against an energetic and motivated Halifax side, Forge dug deep and were able to keep the match level after the two sides had traded goals in the opening 23 minutes. That allowed them time to stay in the fight, and deliver a late counter-punch of their own.
In the 82nd minute, Bobby Smyrniotis went to his bench and introduced Noah Jensen and Max Filion. The Forge coach said that he had noticed space between the Halifax central defenders, and without a number nine on the pitch after Brian Wright departed in the 71st minute, decided to bring in Filion, while adding Jensen to cut in from the left and provide service for the striker.
It worked perfectly, as six minutes after the pair had been introduced, Jensen cut in from the left and whipped in a cross that Filion headed in for the winner.
It was another late road victory for Forge, who also turned a single point into three late against Pacific at Starlight Stadium earlier in the season after introducing Hoce Massunda off the bench in that one.
The orange machine keeps grinding out results this year, and now they find themselves at the top of the table as a result.
Paton's versatility continues to be a huge asset for Forge FC
Ben Paton has found his way onto the pitch in all but one of Forge's matches this season. But where on the field he has lined up has changed a fair amount over the course of the campaign.
The last time Ben Paton was playing in Halifax, for example, back on May 3 in a 0-0 draw, he lined up as a left wing back. During that game, often feeling he was open down the flank, he consistently raised his arms asking for service from his teammates. He did it so much so in that match that it became a joke within the locker room.
So when Paton, this time playing in central midfield, unleashed a screamer just seven minutes into Friday's match, he outstretched his arms as a joking homage to that last match. It was the kind of goal that head coach Bobby Smyrniotis had often seen in training from Paton -- so he was thrilled to finally see the 25-year-old unleash one in a match.
"He's a player that's been excellent for us, playing a lot on the left side and the last few games come into a central role," said Smyrniotis. "It's something we want from him to be splitting that central access, to be able to find the moments and the space to be able to use that. Today he's used it, and it's come to our benefit."
Paton's incredible versatility has been a huge asset for Forge this campaign, and that goal was another example. Being able to play multiple positions will always help in a Forge team that prides itself on tactical flexibility.
Paton followed that goal up with an excellent performance in a difficult midfield battle against a quality Halifax trio, winning possession eight times and completing 26 of 31 attempted passes.
With Alessandro Hojabrpour back in training, and expected to be available for selection soon, Paton's spot at the base of midfield will be contested. But wherever he has been placed this season, the 25-year-old has delivered, meaning Smyrniotis is likely to continue to find ways to get him on the pitch.
Halifax's losing streak extends to three, as missed chances cost them
The Halifax Wanderers put in a strong shift against Forge FC on Friday night at home, taking it to the league's top team for large stretches of the game with an energetic and attacking approach.
So the fact that they come away with nothing, especially when they had at least a point with just a few minutes remaining, will really hurt. It is a frustrating third straight loss for a team that started the season so brightly -- and now need to find form quickly as they begin to lose their footing in the standings.
In particular, Halifax were frustrated that they let Forge escape unscathed during several dangerous attacking sequences where one more quality pass, or a better decision in the final third, likely would have led to a goal. The build-up was excellent from the Wanderers on the night -- but the critical moments were not.
"You have to give credit to Forge, they are a very good team," said Ryan Telfer. "They do these things day in, day out, finding ways to win. And I think at some point we have to find ways to do the exact same thing...we gotta get back to the drawing board and work on those things and how we can take advantage of when we have our chances."
Halifax will have to sit back on Saturday and watch other teams around them in the standings pick up points -- with the possibility that they slip into the fifth and final playoff spot should York United defeat Cavalry.
What They Said
"When you have 70 minutes of beautiful football that you're attacking, you've got to try to get more than one goal. There's so many little chances and more chances that we could have got more, and we're talking about something different, but we didn't." -- Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar
"Super pleased, going in on the road it's not always easy...but the boys we dug in at the end there, got all the way to the 87th minute to manage to squeeze one out and get the win in the end." -- Forge FC midfielder Ben Paton
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Lorenzo Callegari, Halifax Wanderers
It is rare for a player of the match to go to a player whose team lost on the day, but that's how good Callegari was. His brilliant assist to Ryan Telfer was one of the best seen in the CPL this season, and he also completed 60 of 66 passes, won eight of 12 duels, and made five interceptions.
What’s next?
Halifax remain at home, where they host Vancouver FC in their annual Natal Day match on Monday, August 4 (3 p.m. ET). Forge are back home next Saturday, where they host Valour FC on Saturday, August 2 (7 p.m. ET).
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