RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Atlético Ottawa | September 12, 2026

With a thrilling three-goal performance on Saturday night in Hamilton, Forge FC delivered a strong message: a CPL Shield three-peat is still very much a possibility. 

A 3-0 win over Atlético Ottawa saw Maxime Bourgeois score his first two professional goals, after captain Kyle Bekker opened the scoring with his first of the season. 

"Sometimes you need to put on a performance like this to remember, 'okay, this is what we have to do to be who we want to be'," said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smryniotis. "So that's what we're happy with after the 90 minutes." 

Forge finished the match with 22 shot attempts, seven of which were on target. 

For the time being, the win puts them just one point behind Cavalry FC, who play tomorrow on Vancouver Island, at the top of the CPL table. 

In their first meeting since May, both Forge FC and Atlético Ottawa sides made intriguing tactical tweaks. Atleti gave Diego Gutiérrez his first league start, forming a midfield three with Manny Aparicio and Juan Castro. 

Forge, meanwhile, chose to shift Bourgeois further forward into a wide midfield position on the right. From that spot, he was the architect of the majority of the hosts' chances in the early going. 

On the half-hour mark, he got in behind and sent a strike across goal which beat Chris Kalongo in the Ottawa net, but was heroically cleared off the line by Roni Mbomio. 

Four minutes later, it was Ottawa's chance to come incredibly close to the opener. Maybe the worst man to leave unmarked on a corner, Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau had a free header which he directed off of the post and wide. 

He was in behind again just moments later, but this time it was Forge's Antoine Batisse who got in front of his shot to send it wide of target. 

Making his return to Forge for the first time, Atlético Ottawa goalkeeper Kalongo made a brilliant double save. First, Aghilas Sadek sent a curling effort from distance that he palmed away, before recovering to deny Rezart Rama on the rebound. 

Despite a number of decent chances, the match was scoreless heading into the half. 

Forge had another good opportunity two minutes into the second half as Hoce Massunda sent a dangerous ball across the goal mouth. But neither Bekker nor Brian Wright could make enough contact to direct it past Dimitry Bertaud. 

Forge kept pressing, however, and on the hour mark had a deserved breakthrough. Again, it was Massunda who cut inside and played an outstanding ball into the box that Bekker headed perfectly past Kalongo. 

Eight minutes later, Bekker forced another good save from Kalongo on a free kick from out wide. 

In the 79th minute, Forge added another. This time it was good strength from Ismael Oketokoun to hold off his man before playing a cross into Bourgeois, which he stabbed past Kalongo. It was the 24-year-old's first professional goal. 

Looking to see out the result, Forge welcomed back Manjrekar James off the bench as their newest signing made his first appearance of the season. 

Ruthless in stoppage time, Forge added a third. Again, it was a brilliant solo run from Oketokoun, who beat multiple players down the right flank before, again, picking out Bourgeois to put the cherry on top of a spectacular Forge performance. 

The win also gives Forge a chance to clinch a playoff spot tomorrow should Vancouver FC get a win or a draw against Inter Toronto. 

It all sets up an absolutely massive next week for Forge, where they host FC Supra du Québec in the TELUS Canadian Championship semifinal, with a spot in the final on the line, before a 1st vs 2nd clash with Cavalry at ATCO Field this coming Saturday in the league.

Box Score

Starting XIs

Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Batisse (James 81'), Nimick, Jevremović; Aromatario, Bekker (Paton 79'), Bourgeois; Sadek (Borges 79'), Wright (Oketokoun 72'), Massunda (Ampomah 72')

Atlético Ottawa: Kalongo; Coulanges, Kozlovskiy, Cloutier, Mbomio (Arnaud 71'); Gutiérrez (Khoury 81'), Aparicio, Castro (Habibullah 71'); Antinoro (García 81'), Fleuriau Chateau, Tabla 

Goals

60' - Kyle Bekker (Forge FC) 
79' - Maxime Bourgeois (Forge FC) 
90+2' - Maxime Bourgeois (Forge FC) 

Discipline

15 - Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa) 
40' - Yellow: Kyle Bekker (Forge FC) 
65' - Yellow: Sergei Kozlovskiy (Atlético Ottawa) 
66' - Yellow: Roni Mbomio (Atlético Ottawa 
70' - Yellow: Brian Wright (Forge FC) 
82' - Yellow: Ismael Oketokoun (Forge FC) 

CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match

Maxime Bourgeois, Forge FC 

Playing in a new, more advanced role, Bourgeois was a spark for Forge in attack and got rewarded with a pair of goals as part of a spectacular performance. He had 11 touches in the box, created a chance and completed a pair of dribbles. 

What's Next?

Forge now turn their attention to the TELUS Canadian Championship, where they host the second leg of their series with FC Supra du Québec on Thursday (7 p.m. ET), 

They are next in league action with a massive clash against Cavalry FC on Saturday, September 19 (5 p.m. ET). 

Atlético Ottawa, meanwhile, return home, where they host FC Supra du Québec on Sunday, September 20 (12 p.m. ET).