In just a seven-day span over the past week, the team at the top of the Canadian Premier League table changed four times. First, it was York United passing Atlético Ottawa after a 1-0 victory against Valour. Then rivals Forge took the top spot after a midweek victory over Halifax Wanderers. Atleti briefly regained the lead following a win at Starlight Stadium on Saturday, before Forge snatched the top of the table back with a late win against Vancouver FC on Sunday. It was a demonstration of just how tight things are right now at the top end of the CPL standings, with just four points separating first-place Forge from fourth-place Cavalry. While the margins between them seem to be getting smaller, these four teams, Forge, Atlético Ottawa, York United and Cavalry are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack as well. There is now a seven-point gap between Cavalry and fifth-place Vancouver FC, with that growing to double-digit points for any team below the Eagles. Things, of course, can and do change rapidly in this league, but given Vancouver’s recent form, with just two wins in their last 12, they certainly aren’t trending toward regular season title contenders, and neither is anyone else below them. So at this moment in the season, it looks like there is a distinct group of four forming at the top. It’s worth noting that the first tie-breaker this year is head-to-head record if there is a tie on points, so down the stretch games between these top teams will take on even more meaning beyond just the three potential points on offer. What’s on the line? The CPL Shield trophy for one and a financial prize equal to that of winning the CPL Final. But perhaps more important than that, the league’s regular season winner earns a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup — something Cavalry did last season. Here is a look at the Canadian Premier League’s current top four, and how they are positioned for what is promising to be an absolutely enthralling CPL regular season title and playoff race.
1. Forge FC
Points: 34
Record (W-D-L): 10-4-5
Goals For: 35
Goals Against: 23
Goal Difference: +12
‘Forge season’ is usually the fall, when the Canadian Premier League playoffs start, having won four of the league’s five CPL finals. But this year, it might have started a bit early, as the Hamilton club have won five of their past seven matches, including three straight over an eight-day stretch. That run propelled them to the top of the table, as the first team in the league to reach ten wins. They have also now scored more goals than any other team with 35 — scoring multiple goals in 13 of their 19 regular season matches. Forge also currently sit second in the league in expected goals behind only the Halifax Wanderers (24.61). But they sit first in expected goals on target (15.83), showing how dangerous they have been in and around the goal this season. Evidently, the future of Kwasi Poku, who is the team’s leading goalscorer with eight on the season, is a big question mark — as he continues to be held out of the lineup due to transfer interest. However, with 14 different goal-scorers this season, they have been able to find more goals from different sources than any other CPL club. If there is one clear aspect of Forge’s game that they need to improve this season in order to stay in the top spot, it is their performances away from home. A 2-1 victory over Vancouver FC this past weekend was the first time they have won outside of Ontario this season, as their only other road victory was against rivals York United back in April. Forge are also the only team in this group still competing in the Canadian Championship, which could split their attention for a few upcoming fixtures. But they have managed the duelling competitions well this year, if anything using the momentum gained in the national competition to fuel their ascendency up the CPL table.
The Run-in
Friday, August 23 @ York United
Friday, August 30 vs. Pacific FC
Saturday, September 7 vs. Cavalry FC
Saturday, September 14 @ Halifax Wanderers
Saturday, September 21 @ Vancouver FC
Saturday, September 28 vs. York United
Sunday, October 6 @ Valour FC
Saturday, October 12 vs. Atlético Ottawa
Saturday, October 19 @ Pacific FC
2. Atlético Ottawa
Points: 32
Record (W-D-L): 9-5-5
Goals For: 33
Goals Against: 24
Goal Difference: +9
Atlético Ottawa’s ‘super team’ came flying out of the gates to start the 2024 season — setting a league record for most matches undefeated to begin a Canadian Premier League season, with nine. Their cape has come off a bit in recent weeks, however, as they have won just three of their ten matches since — including three straight losses by a combined score of 9-2 to York United, Forge FC and Cavalry between July 26 and August 10. Despite their serious dip in form, however, they remain just two points off the top spot, a position they held for 14 straight matchweeks. The talent and experience on this team remains exceptional, not least of which considering coach Carlos González and multiple players were part of the 2022 regular season title-winning team. They still sit second in goals for (33), third in expected goals (24.58), and second in shots on target (96). They also have one of the league’s most lethal strikers this year, as Rubén del Campo is tied with York United’s Brian Wright for the Golden Boot lead with nine. With former CPL Player of the Year Ollie Bassett, CPL champions Manny Aparicio, Aboubacar Sissoko and Amer Didić, Ballou Tabla, and Matteo de Brienne, there is more than enough quality on this team to figure out this rough patch. Atleti still have to travel away to play Cavalry, Forge and York United before the season’s end, but that will probably suit them just fine. Atleti have been the league’s best road team this season, winning five of their nine matches on the road. But they have really struggled at TD Place lately, with just one victory, and three losses, in their past six matches at home. A big part of that, and their struggles in general, have been in their own third of the field. Atleti are tied with Vancouver FC for most home goals conceded this season, with 14. Only Valour and Vancouver, meanwhile, have faced more shots on target even if the expected goal numbers indicate that those aren’t particularly high-danger opportunities. The team did bring in defensive midfielder Ilias Iliadis to help combat those issues, who has already been deployed to great success as a left-sided central defender in a back three. But it will take a team commitment to get back to the sort of defensive solidity they had early in the season that will likely prove key to their success in the final few months of the season.
The Run-in
Saturday, August 24 @ Halifax Wanderers
Saturday, August 31 vs. Vancouver FC
Monday, September 9 @ Valour FC
Sunday, September 15 @ Cavalry FC
Sunday, September 22 vs. Pacific FC
Sunday, September 29 vs. Halifax Wanderers
Sunday, October 6 @ York United
Saturday, October 12 @ Forge FC
Saturday, October 19 vs. Vancouver FC
3. York United
Points: 31
Record (W-D-L): 9-4-6
Goals For: 29
Goals Against: 25
Goal Difference: +4
More than any other club in the current top four, this is uncharted territory for the Nine Stripes. For the first time in their history, they recently ended a matchweek — week 18 — in the league’s top position. A surging Forge, coupled with a 2-1 loss to Cavalry, knocked them back down to third for the time being, but they are still very much in the fight. A big part of that has been a newfound consistency under head coach Benjamín Mora, as in his 11 games in charge they have lost just twice, and won six times. After conceding 14 times in the eight games before he took over, they have allowed just nine in his 11 matches in charge. They have done so with a new-look back three of Oswaldo León, Frank Sturing and Noah Abatneh, shielded by Elijah Adekugbe as a holding midfielder, and shifting Juan Córdova into central midfield — all of whom have been outstanding. In attack, Brian Wright isn’t showing any signs of slowing down during what has already been one of the best offensive seasons in the league’s short history. Wright is currently tied for the league’s Golden Boot lead with nine goals, while also the joint leader for most assists with six. York United get the opportunity to host all three of the other current top-four teams at York Lions Stadium during the run-in. They will relish that opportunity, having already won more games this season at home, six, than any other season in the club’s history. With five home games remaining, they are a point away from setting the single-season home points record as well. Perhaps their biggest hurdle, however, remains their 905 Derby rivals Forge FC, who have defeated them three times in all competitions this season by a combined score of 9-1. They have yet to meet since Benjamín Mora took over as head coach, however, and so Friday’s match at York Lions Stadium, and a Sept. 28 clash at Tim Hortons Field, will go a long way toward York’s title run.
The Run-in
Friday, August 23 vs. Forge FC
Monday, September 2 @ Halifax Wanderers
Friday, September 6 @ Vancouver FC
Friday, September 13 vs. Valour FC
Friday, September 20 vs. Cavalry FC
Saturday, September 28 @ Forge FC
Sunday, October 6 vs. Atlético Ottawa
Thursday, October 10 vs. Pacific FC
Saturday, October 19 @ Halifax Wanderers
4. Cavalry FC
Points: 30
Record (W-D-L): 7-9-3
Goals For: 23
Goals Against: 18
Goal Difference: +5
For large stretches of this season, the Canadian Premier League’s defending regular season winners looked anything but. They spent nine of the first 15 matchdays outside of the playoff positions, never reaching higher than fifth. Cavalry have the fewest losses in the league this season, with just three in their first 19 matches, but a club record nine draws through their first 15 matches of the campaign kept them in a rather stagnant spot in the table. With four straight victories, however, they are right back in the hunt — especially after recent victories over both Atlético Ottawa and York United. These wins have been ignited by a combination of a return to health for many key attackers, including Ali Musse and Maël Henry, as well as key recruitment in bringing in the likes of Nicholas Wähling and Lowell Wright to add attacking depth. After scoring multiple goals in a game just twice in their first 16 matches of the season, they have now done so in three consecutive games. While their attack took a little bit to catch up this season, defensively Cavalry are the best team in the Canadian Premier League. They have allowed the fewest goals, with just 18 in 19 matches, a number which speaks to how little they have given up defensively this season: a league-best 16.91 expected goals against and just 58 shots on target faced. Cavalry has proven over the years that they can manage the ups and downs of a long season better than any other club in the league — and once again they are getting hot at just the right time. It wasn’t until Week 20 last year that they overtook Pacific FC for good in the table and began creating that 13-point margin by which they won the CPL Shield. They can’t go top of the table in week 20 this year, but oh boy could they put the pressure on the teams ahead of them with another win.
The Run-in
Saturday, August 24 vs. Pacific FC
Friday, August 30 vs. Valour FC
Saturday, September 7 @ Forge FC
Sunday, September 15 vs. Atlético Ottawa
Friday, September 20 @ York United
Saturday, September 28 vs. Vancouver FC
Saturday, October 5 @Pacific FC
Saturday, October 12 vs. Halifax Wanderers
Saturday, October 19 @ Valour FC