RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Atlético Ottawa (May 13, 2025)

Forge FC and Atlético Ottawa played to a thrilling 2-2 draw in the second annual School Day Match at Hamilton Stadium on Tuesday, as the Canadian Premier League's two remaining unbeaten side remained so to kick off matchweek seven.

With thousands of students from dozens of local schools in attendance, there was no sleepy start for those in attendance at this 11 a.m. match. A CPL-record crowd of 17,921 packed Hamilton Stadium to produce a boisterous atmosphere for a Tuesday morning.

The game took some time to get up to its full speed, though; in the opening 20 minutes, Forge had the lion's share of the ball, probing around the Ottawa goal and looking for ways behind the visitors' back three. However, Atleti stood tall and were extremely patient in possession, deliberately slowing the game down early to mitigate the energy Forge might draw from the atmosphere.

Eventually though, things broke open thanks to a quick, direct attack by Ottawa. As they broke forward in transition, Sam Salter flicked it with his first touch into the path of David Rodríguez, who ran through acres of space toward goal alone. Forge keeper Jassem Koleilat came out to challenge Rodríguez, who ran out of space by the goal line, but the Ottawa winger managed to pass the ball across to where Kevin Dos Santos was unmarked and able to smash it into an open net.

Much to the crowd's delight, though, Forge's response was instant. The Hammers needed just 1:23 of game time to score the equalizer, as Ottawa cleared the ball from their box straight to Ben Paton. The Forge fullback played a dangerous cross back into the area for Nana Ampomah, who rose above Dos Santos to head the ball past Nathan Ingham and level the score at 1-1.

Not long after halftime, it was the visitors again who found the upper hand. Ballou Tabla jumped on a ball behind the Forge backline, and cut it across goal where Koleilat got a hand to it but couldn't take control. Instead, Salter blasted home the rebound, restoring Atleti's lead.

But again, Forge found a way back, this time in the 75th minute. Ampomah dribbled into the box and beat his man with a clever backward touch, but Ingham was able to save his shot -- deflecting it into the midst of a few Ottawa defenders. However, Forge striker Amadou Koné burst onto the scene and managed to get his foot to the loose ball, poking it home to make it 2-2.

Ottawa's day got more frustrating with 10 minutes left, as star Rodríguez was given early marching orders, picking up two yellow cards within a few seconds for dissent.

Koné nearly added another in stoppage time, but Ingham smothered his header from close range off a corner kick.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Forge FC: Koleilat; Rama, Achinioti-Jönsson, Nimick, Paton; Kane (Owolabi-Belewu 78'), Bekker, Jensen (Koné 67'); Ampomah (Filion 78'), Wright (Massunda 78'), Babouli

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Kozlovskiy, Abatneh, Cloutier (Duhaney-Walker 84'); Dos Santos, Castro, Aparicio, Antinoro (Levis 84'); Rodríguez, Salter (Patterson 90+2'), Tabla (Sissoko 78')

Goals

37' -- Kevin Dos Santos (Atlético Ottawa)
38' -- Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)
58' -- Samuel Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
75' -- Amadou Koné (Forge FC)

Discipline

34' -- Yellow: Brian Wright (Forge FC)
51' -- Yellow: Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa)
58' -- Yellow: Kevin Dos Santos (Atlético Ottawa)
76' -- Yellow: Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)
80' -- Yellow: David Rodríguez (Atlético Ottawa)
81' -- 2nd Yellow: David Rodríguez (Atlético Ottawa)