| Final Score: Forge FC 2-2 York United Goalscorers: Ferrin 19', Reid 45+1'; Wright 40', Choinière 79' Game of the 2025 season: 49 CPL Match: 645 |
|---|
Match in a minute or less
Forge FC needed a late goal from substitute David Choinière to remain the only unbeaten team in the CPL this season, a 2-2 draw against a York United side who gave them plenty of problems.
At Hamilton Stadium, York United gave the hosts plenty of problems, twice taking the lead through Massimo Ferrin and Adonijah Reid. Former Nine Stripe Brian Wright provided the other goal for the hosts, his seventh of the season.
The draw means that York have gone nine straight without a win against Forge in all competitions, but Sunday's match felt like another example of that gap closing between the two sides.
Three Observations
Another heated 905 Derby ends in a thrilling 2-2 draw as York show they can compete with the league's best
Two 905 derbies in the books for the 2025 CPL season, and so far nothing to separate the Ontario rivals Forge and York United in the second consecutive 2-2 draw.
It is already a big departure from last season for the Nine Stripes, who were dominated by their Hamilton rivals, failing to score a single goal against them in the league in three losses and a 0-0 draw. They were also eliminated by Forge with a 3-1 loss in the Canadian Championship.
This year, however, this York group has sent a message in their two matches against the defending regular season winners: it isn't going to be as easy in 2025.
"When we come here, they feel like they can always beat us," said York United attacker Adonijah Reid. "But we showed how good of a team we are today, we tied them last game at York and can show that we are better today. We obviously didn't come out with the victory today, but we can show that we can compete with these guys, whatever game that it is."
York have now scored four of the nine goals Forge have conceded in league action this season.
What will hurt is that they have not be able to hold on to the leads in both matches they have taken against Forge and truly make a statement to their opponents and the rest of the league.
But belief within this group is building, and after back-to-back draws against the top two teams in the league, York are proving that they can compete with anyone in the league this year.
Adonijah Reid the difference maker for York
Since his homecoming to York United, 25-year-old Adonijah Reid has been in and out of the lineup with the Nine Stripes, playing different roles, including a less natural number nine position to begin the year.
However, Gabriel Bitar's recent call-up to the Lebanese national team gave Reid an opportunity to get back into the starting lineup, and he has made the most of it.
Reid has been one of York's most dangerous players in recent matches, with his excellent dribbling ability and vertical runs creating a lot of threatening moments. On Sunday, he was finally rewarded for his efforts.
In the 19th minute, Reid picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward, before slipping in Massimo Ferrin down the left, who opened the scoring.
Then, with one of the last kicks of the first half, Reid made a great run through the middle, and was spotted by Julian Altobelli, before calmly slotting the ball past Jassem Koleilat. It was his first CPL league goal for York United.
"He's a player that understands the pockets quite well and is able to stretch the team when he has to," said Eustáquio. "He's comfortable, he's confident, and we've just got to continue to feed him the ball and see good things like this."
Eustáquio believes that Reid is still a player with another gear in his locker, but Sunday was a good example of the game-breaking ability he can offer this York team.
Forge keep unbeaten streak alive, but a slow start nearly costs them
For nearly 80 minutes on Sunday, it looked like a CPL opponent had finally solved Forge.
Riding an 11-match unbeaten streak in the league, with no losses so far this season going into Sunday's match, Forge were trailing at half-time, and well into the second half.
That came after a first half where it was the visitors who better executed their game plan. They outpossessed the hosts with 55.1 per cent of the ball, and moved the ball really well through the lines, finding some good pockets of space in the middle of the park and creating dangerous moments, and ultimately goals, from them
The possession, of course, didn't tell the whole story as Forge created some great chances of their own on the counterattack and from their press, but they were by no means in control of the match.
"Probably one of the slowest paced halves of the season," said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. "It's something as a coach you always think about after things are going well. You come back home to play and sometimes there's a little bit of overconfidence in the team, and it's something we discussed in the locker room.
"And I just think, whether it's the heat and the guys are trying to conserve something, that's a dangerous thing to do."
He says that when his guys did put in the hard yards and pressed York, that was when they created their opportunities and forced mistakes. Eventually, they were able to fight their way back into the game, and their quality shone through.
In the 79th minute, substitute David Choinière had a sublime finish after a great ball across from Rezart Rama to equalize. It was a deserved equalizer in the end, and a draw was probably a fair result on the day, but it was likely the closest Forge have come to losing their season. They will need to learn from it, should they want this run to continue.
What They Said
"We're also a confident team that we go into the second half and we're going to spin the game, win that game or not, but we're definitely not going to lose. That's one thing we do. And I know it's simple to say, but that's the mentality of the guys in the room." -- Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"We stuck to the strategy. And then obviously the players were able to execute. Extremely proud of what we came here and did. I think if there's a team probably closer to the 3-2, it would be us." -- York United head coach Mauro Eustáquio
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Adonijah Reid, York United
Reid was the attacking catalyst for York on Sunday with a brilliant performance that saw him score his first league goal for the Nine Stripes, and pick up an assist, in the first half. He completed all 15 of his passes during a tidy performance.
What’s next?
Forge are back in action next weekend, as they host Vancouver FC for the first time this season on Saturday, July 5 (5 p.m. ET).
York United, meanwhile, are back in action in the Canadian Championship on Tuesday, July 8 (7 p.m. ET) in the second leg of their quarter-final against Atlético Ottawa. Their next league action is also at home on Sunday, July 13, against Valour FC (6 p.m. ET).
Watch all CPL and Canadian Championship 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.
