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Hamilton Teams Grab Contrasting Results in Tim Hortons Field Double-Header
By The latest League 1 Ontario and Canadian Premier League double-header saw Hamilton United Elite host North Mississauga SC in the women’s division, while Forge welcomed Valour. There were plenty of goals across both games, with one Hamiltonian team prevailing, while the other fell to defeat. Here is a recap of the proceedings.
North Mississauga Clinical In 2-1 Win
In the first game of the day, North Mississauga came to town to face Hamilton United Elite. The hosts were beaten 6-2 by Vaughan SC in their last game, while NMSC suffered their first defeat of the campaign against BVB IA Waterloo.
The visitors dominated most of the first half, creating chance after chance. Hamilton United could count themselves lucky – on multiple occasions – not to have been down by several goals early on.
The home side’s resistence would be broken down in the 20th minute. Josie Morgan was afforded too much space, firing a shot from outside the box that beat keeper Jenna Febbraro.
Just minutes later, it would be 2-0. Morgan was again involved in the play after being taken down by HUE’s Brynn Jury’s off a corner. Kennedi Herrmann stepped up and converted her penalty to double North Mississauga’s lead.
The guests, who came into the match 3-0-1 on the season, continued to dominate, but as the game neared half-time Hamilton started to improve. They even won a penalty at the stroke if the interval as Bryanna Cladwell was felled in the box. Sabrina Cunha’s ensuing spot kick was denied by Mollie Eriksson, who guessed right to keep the score 2-0.
In the second half, Hamilton United was the better side, creating the majority of the chances. They would be awarded 20 minutes from time: after a shot rattled off the bar, Jenna Parris was the first to react as she beat Eriksson to cut the lead in half.
Hamilton nearly found their equalizer with a few minutes left on the clock. Jade Abreo’s corner hit the bar and somehow stayed out. It was her side’s best chance of the half, bar the goal.
The match ended 2-1 for North Mississauga, who wins for the fourth time in five games. HUE falls to 0-1-4 and is looking set to be in L1O Championship next year.
NMSC has a couple of weeks before they host Alliance United and Burlington SC at Mattamy Sports Park on 31 May and 3 June, respectively. Hamilton United Elite faces Burlington SC next Sunday as they look for their first victory in 2023.
Resilient Forge Tops Valour In Back-And-Forth Game
In the closing match of the double-header, Forge and Valour met for the first time in 2023. The Hammers came into the game following a dramatic penalty shootout win against Ottawa in Tuesday’s Canadian Championship quarterfinal. The Winnipeg-based Valour drew 0-0 in last weekend at home to HFX Wanderers.
Forge had three changes in their team from their last CPL clash – a 1-0 defeat of York United. Woobens Pacius, Noah Jensen, and Kwasi Poku all dropped to the bench, replaced by Jordan Hamilton, Kyle Bekker, and Aboubacar Sissoko.
As for Valour, coach Phil Dos Santos opted for just one adjustment from their last game, with Eksander Mzoughi being replaced by Walter Ponce.
The game started off slow regarding chances, with the first major effort coming at the quarter-hour mark. After a sloppy pass, Alexander Achiniotti-Jonsson played in Terran Campbell, with the Forge attacker’s shot was saved by Rayane Yesli.
The home team again threatened moments later, as Tristan Borges found Bekker in the box. Yesli was again called to make a reflex save the keep the score level. Sissoko’s follow-up was easily handled by the Valour keeper.
It was the guests would get on the scoreboard first after 30 minutes of play: taking a quick free kick, Pacifique Niyongabire went on a run, beating a few players before finding Kian Williams all alone. The Valour winger kept his composure, smashing it last Triston Henry to give Valour the lead.
However, the advantage would only last for three minutes. Sissoko fell in the box, asking for a penalty. Despite it not given, the Forge midfielder did well to hold on to the ball and find Hamilton, who fired his shot into the bottom corner.
Forge got themselves in front just five minutes into the second half. Sissoko initially crossed the ball, with Terran Campbell chesting down the ball go Bekker. The Forge captain fired first time, with his shot coming off of former Hammer Klaidi Cela and going into the goal, wrong-footing Yesli.
Hamilton was again involved in a Forge attack moments later. His header from a Campbell cross forced a big save from Yesli.
Valour went in search of their equalizer after that. It would come in the 74th minute. Off the second phase of a corner, Matteo de Brienne played in Abdoulaye Samake, who was initially wide open. The Valour center back was very composed in cutting in past Morgan and putting his shot in, despite Henry getting a piece on it.
Once again, Forge responded right away. This time, it was for good: David Choiniere played in Bekker, whose cross found substitute Kwasi Poku, and the youngster’s header was powerful enough to go straight in.
The guests nearly scored a third moments later: Manjrekar James slipped in trying to control a ball, allowing Jaime Siaj straight in on goal. Despite chipping Henry, the Valour striker’s shot had just too much on it, going over the bar.
That would be the away team’s last meaningful chance, as Forge held on for a 3-2 win. They stay ahead in the CPL tables as a result of the victory.
Bobby Smyrniotis’ team will be back in action next Friday, as the Hammers will play Vancouver FF for the first time ever. Kickoff from Tim Hortons Field will be at 19 :00.
As for Valour, who lost in the CPL for the first time this year, they head home to take on Pacific next Saturday. That match will be at 17 :00 from IG Field.