For the second time this season, 905 derby rivals Forge FC and York United played to a 2-2 draw, this time on a hot afternoon in Hamilton.
A late goal from substitute David Choinière preserved Forge's unbeaten run in the league this season, which is now up to 12 games. Former York United striker Brian Wright also scored for Forge, while Adonijah Reid and Massimo Ferrin had the goals for the visitors.
York did well to hold a lot of the ball through the first nine minutes of the match, moving it around well in between the lines. York won a free kick in a dangerous area in the tenth minute. Luke Singh's effort, however, was hit right into the wall.
Julian Altobelli caused Jassem Koleilat to scramble on a shot from distance in the 17th minute, but it went narrowly over the net.
Forge quickly went the other way and got their first real look at net as Nana Ampomah sent a deflected shot that had Ivan Pavela diving, but went wide of the post.
York took a deserved lead in the 19th minute. A lovely flowing moment saw Reid dribble through the centre of the park before playing a ball for Ferrin out wide. Ferrin's first-time low-driven shot tucked inside the near post and gave the Nine Stripes a 1-0 lead.
The goal seemed to wake up Forge a little bit, as they started to get more on the ball and push for an equalizer. In the 32nd minute, Brian Wright found himself in behind, but Singh did incredibly well to get back and block off the chance.
In the 40th minute, it was Wright who equalized. Again, on a ball in behind, this time an outstanding outside-of-the-foot pass from Ampomah, the Forge striker found himself in behind. He rounded Pavela, before slotting the ball home, his seventh of the season, from a tight angle to make it 1-1.
Forge kept pressing, especially as York tried to play out of the back, and got unlucky on a few occasions late in the opening half. Rezart Rama had a great chance to create an equalizer, but he mishit his cross. Ampomah also had a great chance in a one-on-one situation when he got in behind, but took too long to shoot and was dispossessed by Elijah Adekugbe.
Right before half-time, however, York United took the lead. A clever bit of direct play saw Kembo Kibato thread a ball through the midfield to Altobelli, who played an equally well-weighted pass into the path of Reid in the box. Reid made no mistake, slotting it past Koleilat to give the Nine Stripes a 2-1 lead heading into the half.
York continued to try to create chances on the counterattack, with a last-ditch tackle needed from Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson in the 52nd minute to keep Ferrin from breaking into the box.
Wright found the back of the net again in the 64th minute, but before he could peel off in celebration, he realized the referee's flag had been raised for offside.
In the 72nd minute, York won a free kick right outside the Forge net. This time, Singh's strike cleared the wall and froze Koleilat, before pinging off the top of the crossbar.
Forge kept pressing to keep their 12-match unbeaten run alive, and in the 79th minute, found an equalizer. Rama's low cross picked out substitute Choinière open in the box, and his first-time strike across goal beat Pavela to equalize the match 2-2.
Both sides kept pressing late into stoppage time for a winner. York had an outstanding chance to win it at the death, but Koleilat dove and made an incredible stop on Max Ferrari.
With the draw, Forge extended their unbeaten run against York United to nine matches in all competitions. They have not lost to their Ontario rivals since the summer of 2023.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Forge FC: Koleilat; Rama, Nimick, Owolabi-Belewu (Kane 46'), Jevremović; Achinioti-Jönsson, Jensen (Paton 56'), Bekker; Ampomah (Borges 79'), Massunda (Choinière 56'), Wright (Filion 90')
York United: Pavela; Singh, Adekugbe, León; Ferrazzo (Bitar 84'), Yeates, Kibato (Accettola 60'), Botello; Reid (Ferrari 77'), Ferrin, Altobelli (Jimoh 84')
Goals
19' — Massimo Ferrin (York United)
40' -- Brian Wright (Forge FC)
45+1' -- Adonijah Reid (York United)
79 -- David Choinière (Forge FC)
Discipline
27' — Yellow: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
28' -- Yellow: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
50' -- Yellow: Adonijah Reid (York United)
64' -- Yellow: Ivan Pavela (York United)
66' -- Yellow: Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)
71' -- Yellow: Brian Wright (Forge FC)
84' -- Yellow: Steffen Yeates (York United)
