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Photo Credit: Jojo Yanjiao Qian
Forge 1-1 Vancouver FC: Eagles Claim Surprising Point
By In what was a weekend of surprises in the Canadian Premier League, bottom dwellers Vancouver FC managed to claim a point away to first-placed Forge.
The Hammers and Eagles played out to a 1-1 stalemate at Hamilton Stadium on Saturday, which put a dent in the former’s hopes of retaining the league’s regular season title.
Forge had gone into the match off the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Pacific the weekend before. There were just two changes to the side ahead of Saturday’s contest, as Mo Babouli and Ben Paton replaced Viktor Klonaridis and Alessandro Hojabrpour.
For Vancouver FC, they entered having lost the Canadian Championship final the previous Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. However, they went into their weekend match having defeated the HFX Wanderers 3-1 in their most recent CPL game. There were six changes in the team from the win last Sunday.
Forge almost scored another early goal, as Noah Jensen’s header from David Choiniere’s cross forced a save out of Callum Irving. Tristan Borges’ follow-up hit the side netting.
The Vancouver FC captain was again called into action in the 12th minute. Forge was awarded a free kick from just outside of the box. Babouli stepped up, and curled his effort over the wall and towards goal. Irving sprung to his left to get a hand on the ball, which hit the crossbar and stayed out.
The hosts carved through their opponents again at around the midway point of the first half, as Babouli’s flick played Jensen in. Unfortunately for the midfielder, he could not keep his balance, with his weak shot easily gathered by Irving.
Forge carried the game in the opening half, enjoying 75% of the possession. Their reward nearly came in the 44th minute. Off a free kick, Paton had a chance inside the six yard box. His effort was kept out by Matteo Campagna, who got in the way of the shot.
Moments later, the Hamiltonians took the lead. David Norman’s attempt at clearing his lines was not the best, instead picking out Borges. The Forge attacker took a couple of touches before firing it past a helpless Irving to give his team the lead ahead of the interval.
The second half was much more even, as Vancouver made adjustments during the break. That paid off, as they managed to keep themselves in the game. In the 72nd minute, they found their equalizer. Elage Bah did incredibly well to turn his man and play in Thomas Powell. One pass later, Emrick Fotsing slipped his shot past Jassem Koleilat to level the score.
After conceding, Forge went back on the attack trying to retake the lead. Marko Jevremovic had a go from distance, but the ball flew just over the bar.
Minutes later, substitute Kyle Bekker nearly hit a stunner. The Forge captain was free at the top of the box and was found by Hoce Massunda. Bekker struck a half-volley first-time which thundered off the bar and over. Irving was fully beaten, but was saved by the frame of his goal.
Irving then produced his biggest save of the day. Via a corner, Alexander Achiniotti-Jonsson’s header was somehow kept out by the Vancouver FC skipper, who got a hand on the ball. It was Forge’s best chance of the second half.
That proved to be the last chance for the hosts, who had to settle for a point. The result brought them to 54 points with two games left. Fortunately for them, Atletico Ottawa drew 3-3 in a thriller at Valour on Sunday, meaning the lead remains two points at the top. Next for the Hammers is a trip to Alberta on Friday to face Cavalry.
Vancouver FC, now unbeaten in their last four CPL games, looks to play spoiler on Ottawa, with the capital club making the journey to the west coast to face the Eagles this Saturday.
Header Image Photo Credit: Jojo Yanjiao Qian
