Final Score: Pacific FC 0-2 Forge FC
Goalscorers: Poku 6′, Choinière 38′
Game of the 2023 season: 62
CPL match: 429
Match in a minute or less
After a fifth straight match without a win, Pacific FC have been caught in the Canadian Premier League table, as Forge move level on points with the Tridents after a 2-0 victory at Starlight Stadium on Friday night. Kwasi Poku opened the scoring in just the sixth minute, while David Choinière added a second before halftime. Triston Henry made three saves to keep his fifth clean sheet of the season, tying him with Valour’s Rayane Yesli for the league lead. The second half saw a scary incident, with Pacific FC’s Djenairo Daniels requiring significant medical attention after an injury, causing a long delay that saw both clubs sent back to their locker rooms in the 56th minute before the player was transported off of the pitch on a stretcher. Thankfully, after the match, Pacific coach James Merriman confirmed that Daniels had been transported to the hospital where he was undergoing further tests, but that he was doing well and he was in stable condition. Pacific still sit in first place for the time being, ahead of Forge on goal difference, and does have a game in hand on the Hamilton side.
Three Observations
Quick, decisive ball movement allows Forge an early lead against Pacific
The small surface of Starlight Stadium once again brought the best out of Forge FC on Friday night, as particularly in the opening half they played some brilliant football, cutting through Pacific on multiple occasions with quick and decisive passing and combination play. Both goals, one finished off by Poku in the sixth minute, and Choinière’s effort in the 38th, came from flowing team movements that were finished off clinically by the Forge wingers. “We went out and did what we have been working on in training, not only this week but the last few weeks and just making sure that we were sharp,” said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. “We knew we needed to switch the ball quite a bit against Pacific with them making the field small, and I think the guys executed well in how they did that and we scored some goals.” The Hamilton side’s first goal, in particular, was evidence of this in action. Less than six minutes into the match, Alessandro Hojabrpour switched the ball out wide to Noah Jensen, who touched it into the path of Choinière. The Forge winger ran onto the ball and lofted it into the box to Poku who headed home.
“Our ball movement was quick, we were getting three-four passes in one zone, especially in the attack which was really important tonight,” said Choinière. It was then Poku who combined with Kyle Bekker before playing the Forge captain down the line on the second goal. Bekker crossed the ball into the middle, and as they have frequently of late there were multiple runners from the Hamilton side in the box, with Choinière eventually finishing off the chance. In what has sometimes been a frustrating season for Forge offensively, they look like they are playing with more confidence of late. They have now scored seven goals in their last three matches.
Forge create midfield overload with Achinioti-Jönsson stepping up in possession
On the small pitch at Starlight Stadium, Forge FC were consistently able to create a critical numbers advantage in the middle of the park by shifting central defender Alex Achinioti-Jönsson into the midfield when they were on the ball to join Alessandro Hojabrpour. Achinioti-Jönsson, who famously won the CPL’s inaugural Defender of the Year award last season despite insisting that he was a midfielder, excelled in the hybrid role. His movement allowed Forge an easier route to play out of the back through the Pacific press, while also creating quick passing sequences that allowed them to shift Pacific’s shape. “He’s an excellent player on the ball, not only at the back, but getting him into midfield helps us, it just gave us another tool in the midfield to try to draw them in and keep [Kyle] Bekker a little bit higher up on the pitch and it worked out today,” said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. With Achinioti-Jönsson providing defensive coverage in the middle of the park, Bekker was free to get forward and set up the second goal from the left flank, while Noah Jensen popped up on the right as a key part of the buildup leading to Poku’s opener. Forge’s average position chart below shows just how advanced Achinioti-Jönsson (#13) was for large parts of the match, shifting alongside Alessandro Hojabrpour (#21) at the base of midfield.
Smyrniotis also singled out how important Hojabrpour has been since his return from injury. The 23-year-old, who has won the Canadian Premier League with both Forge and Pacific, was outstanding on Friday night. He made six clearances, while completing a tidy 47 of 52 passes. The midfield play between himself and Achinioti-Jönsson both with and without the ball was a perfect demonstration of the sort of tactical flexibility and fluidity that makes Forge so special when they are at their best.
Pacific FC creates a large quantity of chances, but quality in front of goal lets them down again
For the first time this season, Pacific FC were held scoreless in back-to-back matches, but it wasn’t for lack of opportunities for the league’s top offensive team. They fired 21 shot attempts at Triston Henry, had 34 touches inside the Forge box, and 36 crosses attempted. But only three of those ended up on target, and none of them beat Triston Henry. Overall, Pacific had just 0.06 xG per shot, while Forge managed 0.12. “I know we had twenty-something shots, not enough on target, not enough with focus and concentration in the final act, which is frustrating,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “But if that’s what our focus needs to be now, I have full confidence, as I did at the beginning of the season, where we need to attack it, that’s all. Overall I thought we had a lot of good things tonight. So it is incredibly frustrating to not get anything out of the game.”
Pacific unquestionably did a lot of good things with and without the ball in this match, winning possession back a stunning 13 times in the attacking third through their press, completing 17 dribbles, and playing with some real attacking flair at times despite the lack of final product. They believe that overall this match against Forge was a step in the right direction as they look to return to the fearsome attacking side that went undefeated for two straight months. “I’m optimistic that it is going to come,” said Pacific FC captain Josh Heard. “We are putting in the work and it will come. I’ve played the game long enough that this stubborn persistence of hard work will find the net.” They will have to find that largely on the road, as just four of the Trident’s final 12 matches of the season come at Starlight Stadium after a home-heavy start to 2023.
CanPL.ca Pla****yer of the Match
Manjrekar James, Forge FC
James clearly loves a match at Starlight Stadium, once again delivering an outstanding defensive performance to help Forge earn a clean sheet. He completed 67 of 77 passes, won possession back eight times, made eight clearances and three interceptions.
What’s next?
Forge head back home to Hamilton, where they host Vancouver FC on Friday, July 28 (7:00 p.m. ET), looking to avenge a disappointing 0-0 draw at Tim Hortons Field earlier this season. Pacific, meanwhile, are off to Winnipeg where they take on Valour on Saturday, July 29 (1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET). Watch all CPL matches live on OneSoccer. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.