HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Atlético Ottawa (June 25, 2023)

Forge FC are back in the win column after defeating Atlético Ottawa 4-3 on Sunday at Tim Hortons Field in what will undoubtedly go down as one of the wildest games in Canadian Premier League history.

To say this match started in chaotic fashion is an understatement. Atlético Ottawa got the party started just 22 seconds in, as Carl Haworth took a throw-in toward the box for Gabriel Antinoro, who flicked it over defenders to himself and scored what stands (by milliseconds) as the second-fastest goal in CPL history.

Moments later, though, the hosts would instead be celebrating — albeit sheepishly — as Ottawa defender Macdonald Niba sent a heavy pass back to Nathan Ingham that skipped past the goalkeeper and in for a head-scratching own goal. It then took just over six more minutes for Forge to score yet again, as this time it was Atleti’s Maxim Tissot who passed back errantly and Forge’s Woobens Pacius intercepted, passing across for Terran Campbell to finish in the open goal and make it 2-1.

The game calmed down somewhat after that hectic opening sequence, but Forge settled into a more cohesive possession shape and they continued attacking the goal. Just after the half-hour mark, Tristan Borges made a run into the box to bring down a pinpoint Kyle Bekker pass over the top, and Borges volleyed it with his second touch across goal to Campbell, who headed it in for his second of the half.

Trailing by two goals at halftime, Ottawa boss Carlos González opted to make a triple substitution. He brought Gianni Dos Santos and Jean-Aniel Assi on at the wings and Zakaria Bahous into midfield in place of Carl Haworth, Macdonald Niba and Noah Verhoeven.

After about 20 minutes of the second half, in which Forge had a handful of decent chances they couldn’t finish, Ottawa found a way back into the game by winning a free kick a few feet outside the box. The left-footed Tissot stepped up and feathered his shot in at the near post to cut Forge’s lead to one.

Soon after, the match was back to square one. Bahous found the ball at the top of the box and retrieved it himself after Forge’s Rezart Rama couldn’t clear, and he found Dos Santos in a small pocket. Dos Santos finished his chance and, incredibly, the match was level — but not for long.

Woobens Pacius was the hero in the end for Forge, as he made an excellent run toward the back post to get a head on Kwasi Poku’s left-sided cross and put the Hammers back in front.

Thus ended one of the most entertaining and chaotic matches the league has seen, as Forge FC staved off the Atleti comeback for a 4-3 win and, in doing so, broke a three-match losing streak, moving into sole possession of second place in the CPL table.

BOX SCORE

Goals

1′ — Gabriel Antinoro (Atlético Ottawa)
4′ — Macdonald Niba (Atlético Ottawa) (Own Goal)
11′ — Terran Campbell (Forge FC)
32′ — Terran Campbell (Forge FC)
64′ — Maxim Tissot (Atlético Ottawa)
72′ — Gianni Dos Santos (Atlético Ottawa)
81′ — Woobens Pacius (Forge FC)

Discipline

45+1′ — Yellow: Woobens Pacius (Forge FC)
45+2′ — Yellow: Macdonald Niba (Atlético Ottawa)
54′ — Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (Forge FC)
67′ — Yellow: Dominic Samuel (Forge FC)
67′ — Yellow: Samuel Salter (Atlético Ottawa)