RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. CF Montréal | 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship | May 20, 2025

Forge FC drew first blood against CF Montréal in their Canadian Championship quarter-final with a strong performance to earn a 1-0 victory.

Brian Wright scored the winner in the 78th minute as the Hamilton side held the majority of possession and had the majority of chances, in the match.

Forge made several changes from their most recent league game, and due to injuries and absences, with Marko Jevremović and Malik Owolabi-Belewu returning from injuries of their own. The latter's inclusion pushed Alex Achinioti-Jönsson further forward into the base of midfield to replace the injured Alessandro Hojabrpour.

CF Montréal, meanwhile, made eight changes from the side that lost 6-1 to Toronto FC in MLS action this weekend. With so much rotation, they played an interesting system, with captain Joel Waterman essentially playing as a midfielder defensively, but moving into the backline with the ball so that he could help the build out of the back.

The hosts were the livelier of the two sides in the opening exchanges, creating two corners inside the opening six minutes. They did not really threaten on either.

The Hamilton side thought they'd opened the scoring in the 11th minute. A lovely ball in from Mo Babouli found Brian Wright, who scuffed his chance before it dropped to Jensen. The Forge midfielder smashed the ball into the roof of the net, but the offside flag ruled the goal out.

In the 18th minute, Forge had another excellent chance as Kyle Bekker cut down the left and squared the ball for Babouli. He couldn't get the decisive touch, and neither could Wright, who the ball fell to next, but saw his shot was blocked.

Montréal started to work its way into the match, particularly on counter-attacking opportunities. They took advantage of situations where Forge either turned over the ball in attack, or pressed too aggressively.

The Hamilton side continued to hold the bulk of play, however, trapping the Montréal side in their own end for most of the half. The MLS club struggled to build out of the back, often playing the ball long, with Forge seemingly first to every 50/50.

Despite holding 63.4 per cent of possession and 107 passes in the final third to CF Montréal's 38, they were not able to test Jonathan Sirois in the Montréal net. Given how much of the ball they had, they would be disappointed that the score was still 0-0 when the two sides returned to their dressing rooms for half-time.

Montréal started to find more joy on the ball to begin the second half, with Waterman continuing to serve as the quarterback from the centre of a back three in possession. In the 60th minute, Montréal made a double change, bringing in Dante Sealy and Canadian international Samuel Piette.

The host won a free kick in a dangerous area in the 68th minute. Tempers flared shortly thereafter, with Piette shoving Wright from behind, who was in front of Sirois, trying to throw off the Montréal goalkeeper. Both players were shown yellow cards, as a scuffle broke out between the two teams around the Montréal net.

Montréal came as close as they had come all match moments later, as Nathan Saliba offloaded to Dante Sealy in good position in the box. Both of Forge's full-backs made crucial blocks, however.

It was Forge's turn to come close next, as in the 76th minute, Jensen tested Sirois from distance, and Babouli couldn't get the rebound on frame from a difficult angle.

Two minutes later, Forge finally found their moment. A brilliant ball from Ampomah over the top in the 78th minute caught the Montréal backline sleeping and dropped to Wright. The Forge striker showed brilliant composure to push the ball over Sirois before heading it into the empty net to give Forge a 1-0 lead.

With their much-deserved lead, Forge set about defending it, and made several key interventions in the dying moments to keep out the MLS side. They have now lost just once in their past five meetings with teams from Major League Soccer in this competition.

The two sides will meet again for the second leg on Wednesday, July 9 at Stade Saputo. Away goals are not in effect in this year's competition. 

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Forge FC: Koleilat; Rama, Nimick, Owolabi-Belewu, Jevremović; Achinioti-Jönsson, Bekker, Jensen; Ampomah (Koné 84'), Babouli, Wright (Kane 88')

CF Montréal: Sirois; Craig, Waterman, Álvarez; Bugaj (Piette 60'), Loturi, Saliba, Pearce; Guboglo (Vilsaint 72'), Opoku (Sealy 60'), Owusu (Graham-Roache 72')

Goals

78' -- Brian Wright (Forge FC)

Discipline

24' -- Yellow: Malik Owolabi-Belewu (Forge FC)
35' -- Yellow: Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC)
43' -- Yellow: Joel Waterman (CF Montréal)
66' -- Yellow: Prince Owusu (CF Montréal)
68' -- Yellow: Samuel Piette (CF Montréal)
68' -- Yellow: Brian Wright (Forge FC)
90+1' -- Yellow: Brandan Craig (CF Montréal)
90+5' -- Yellow: Noah Jensen (Forge FC)