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Photo Credit: Jojo Yanjiao Qian
Forge 3-2 Vancouver FC: Hammers Enjoy Canada Day Comeback
By Despite conceding goals at home for the first time in 2026, Forge found a way to come from two goals down to beat Vancouver FC on Canada Day in the Canadian Premier League.
Three weeks on from their last match, a 1-0 win over HFX Wanderers, Forge made four changes to their starting lineup. Most notably, Nana Ampomah got his first start of the season as he spent much of the campaign so far getting back to full match fitness.
For the Eagles, they also came into the match off the back of a win, beating fellow BC rivals Pacific 2-1 a couple of weeks prior. There were a total of six changes made by coach Martin Nash, including club captain Callum Irving going back in goal.
The opening goal of the match came in the seventh minute, when a misplaced pass from Ampomah allowed for Thierno Bah to find Terran Campbell. The former Forge man haunted his former team as he beat Dmitry Bertaud with a low shot.
Vancouver, who has scored the fewest goals in the league so far, looked for more. Ten minutes later, Mohamed Amissi had an effort from just outside of the box that was easily saved by Bertaud.
In a first half where Forge created very few goalscoring chances, they did not convince on the field. The midseason break for the World Cup might have gotten to them, but it only got worse for the Hammers just before the break.
Out of nothing, Vancouver scored a second. From a throw, the visitors managed to get the ball clear from their box. A mishap from Forge’s rest defence saw Bah steal it and break the other way. Facing Bertaud, the attacker made no mistake in slotting it home to double the lead.
For reference, the last time the Hammers conceded two first half goals at home came almost a year prior against Inter Toronto (then York United). In a similar vein, Vancouver had not scored an opening half double in a CPL away game since last August, where they were also beaten.
Things could have gotten even uglier for Forge, as Damiano Pecile had an attempt come back off the post moments after the restart. It could have been all but over for the Hamiltonians.
On the hour mark, the hosts got one back. Hoce Massunda played a cross to Brian Wright, whose first touch laid it off for Tristan Borges, whose effort found the back of the net.
Minutes later, and the score was tied. Halftime substitute Daniel Krutzen was afforded too much space and decided to have a crack. His effort found the bottom corner, stunning Irving, who seemed to lose the ball’s flight.
The momentum was firmly with the home side, as they looked more likely to find a winner. After they used up their final substitutions, they continued to push for a winner. They found it in the 75th minute. From a corner, Maxime Bourgeois’ initial shot was blocked into the path of Antoine Batisse, who turned and fired a shot that deflected into the net.
It now left Vancouver chasing the match as they looked to leave Hamilton with a point. A cross found Nicolas Mezquida, but he could not direct it on goal.
Forge nearly scored a fourth in the end, with Ben Paton’s attempt crashing off the post and staying out. In stoppage time, Massunda pounced on a giveaway and tried his luck, with the attempt just missing the bottom corner.
Bah had one more chance to give Vancouver a point, but his attempt from a free kick went straight to Bertaud, who had no trouble in collecting the ball.
The win for Forge – their fourth in as many matches -stretches their lead at the top to four points over Cavalry, who has played a game less. Next for the Hammers will be a first-ever away match against Supra du Quebec. That will be on Sunday.
As for Vancouver, they stay in seventh spot as their two-game winning streak came to an end. The Eagles will fly back to the west coast to take on Inter Toronto on Saturday.
Header Image Photo Credit: Jojo Yanjiao Qian
