HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC (Oct. 9, 2022)

Forge FC capped off their 2022 Canadian Premier League regular season campaign on Sunday, as they picked up a 1-0 win over the Halifax Wanderers at Tim Hortons Field. 

As a result, they’ll finish the regular season in second place, meaning that they’ll now get set to play Cavalry in the semi-finals, which kick off next weekend. 

In a rematch of the 2019 Finals, Cavalry will host the first leg, before heading to Hamilton for the second leg, as both teams look to return to the final once again.

Returning to this game, however, Forge got off to a bright start, as they looked to test the Wanderers’ Adisa De Rosario, who was making his debut in goal. As a result, Kyle Bekker had a good look at goal in the second minute, but it’d be an easy save for De Rosario, who showed no nerves on the play. 

Yet, while he’d be fortunate not to be tested much on the first shot, the same couldn’t be said of the second attempt he’d face, as Forge continued to push forward. Through that, they’d find their opening goal in just the 8th minute. 

There, Ashtone Morgan did well to find Kwasi Poku at the edge of the box with a nice cross, and from there, Poku would make no mistake with his attempt, slamming a powerful shot into the low corner to give his team the lead. 

At the other end, the Wanderers started to ramp things up, as they chased an equalizer. Because of that, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé decided to have a go from distance in the 21st minute, putting his boot behind a shot from distance, although his attempt would be easily saved by Forge’s Triston Henry. 

From there, however, the game would settle down for 20 or so minutes, as both teams would find their rhythms in possession. 

Despite that, Forge nearly made it two just before half, though, as Kyle Bekker did well to pounce on a Wanderers’ turnover, but his accidental shot would be easily saved by De Rosario, in what was the last action of the first half. 

On the other side of half time, however, the game would start much livelier, as the ball fell to Aboubacar Sissoko in a dangerous position, allowing to unleash a strong half-volley, one that forced an excellent save out of De Rosario to keep things at 1-0. 

Then, in the 61st minute, Halifax looked to tie things up, as Ryan Robinson managed to find the run of Sam Salter with a carefully weighted through ball, but Salter would be denied by the foot of an onrushing Henry. 

A minute later, the Wanderers then came even closer to that equalizer, as a dangerous ball fell to Obeng Tabi in a good area, and he unleashed a powerful strike, one that forced another strong save from Henry. 

Continuing a good run from his team, Gagnon-Laparé then had another good look at goal in the 67th minute, but unlike his earlier attempt, his shot would slice wide. 

Eager to find that equalizer, they’d come closest to finding it in the 85th minute, as Aidan Daniels stepped up to take a free kick in a dangerous area, but his powerful shot would only be kept out by the fingertips of Henry, with some help from the post.

Other than that, however, that’d be all they’d be able to muster up, as Forge did what they needed to do the rest of the way to hold onto the win they desired.

BOX SCORE

Goals

8′ — Kwasi Poku (Forge FC) 

Discipline

18′ — Yellow: Pierre Lamothe (HFX Wanderers)

68′ — Yellow: Emery Welshmen (Forge FC)

88′ — Yellow: Christian Campagna (HFX Wanderers)

90+2′ — Yellow: Garven Metusala (Forge FC)