RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Pacific FC | August 22, 2026

Forge FC are in first place in the Canadian Premier League once again, as they beat Pacific FC 2-0 on Saturday night in a match divided by a two-hour weather delay.

It took a little longer than usual to complete, but ultimately the game was a solid return to form for the Hammers, who have picked up six points in the past week to restore their one-point lead in the CPL Shield race.

Forge, coming off a midweek win over FC Supra du Québec, made just three changes to the starting XI from that last game, but they certainly benefited from the inclusion of Aghilas Sadek up top, as the 18-year-old scored for a second straight match.

The first half had a fairly high tempo, but nothing to write home about as far as finishing was concerned.

Both clubs instead had to rue missed chances. Pacific's Aidan Daniels nearly scored about 20 minutes in, as Taras Gomulka found him way up the pitch with a superb long ball, but Daniels' shot rattled the crossbar.

Not long after, Forge right-back Maxime Bourgeois likewise hit the woodwork as he cut in on the right side and couldn't quite get his shot under the bar.

Pacific were certainly the happier side going into halftime at 0-0. They had created a few good chances and largely kept Forge's attack quiet, although Eleias Himaras did have to make two excellent saves.

Terry Dunfield added some fresh legs to his attack early in the second half, deploying Ronan Kratt at halftime and Josh Heard shortly after. His side did get a reprieve from the offside flag five minutes into the half; Forge's Aghilas Sadek headed in what looked like the opening goal, but the original ball forward several passes prior had been offside.

However, Forge could not be kept silent forever.

Shortly before the hour mark, the hosts ventured into Pacific's half once again. The Tridents cleared an initial attack, but only as far as Daniel Krutzen a few metres inside the halfway line. Krutzen fed a long switch all the way to his centre-back partner Dan Nimick, who took a superb first touch to feed it back toward goal. Forge's striker Ismael Oketokoun was in position near the penalty spot to redirect it into the bottom corner and give his side a 1-0 lead.

There was no time for Forge to build momentum after the goal, much to Bobby Smyrniotis and co.'s chagrin. The match entered a weather delay just five minutes later, due to lightning strikes in the vicinity of Hamilton Stadium.

The sides thus went into the locker rooms for a break that turnout out to be just over two hours long, requiring the two coaches to manage their teams and ensure they could be at their best when play resumed.

When at last the game did kick off again, Forge and Pacific certainly did return with energy, helped in part by a handful of substitutions on both sides. The Tridents threatened for an equalizer a few times in the first five minutes of the resumption, but Forge restored their control of the match.

Sadek, in similar fashion to his match-winner on Wednesday, picked up the ball on the left side and wove his way into the box before curling a shot into the bottom right corner, sealing Forge's 2-0 win.

Forge manager Smyrniotis was pleased with his side's work on the night, commending them for staying focused throughout the delay and preparing for Pacific to come out hard in search of an equalizer.

"We were really going after [Pacific] right before the break, but they had time to rest," Smyrniotis told CPLsoccer.com. "I think, as the team that has nothing to lose, they're going to go out there and they're going to play, and they did that, and our guys really found the space well.

"[We had] small discussions with the guys on some of the things that I thought we could take advantage of. ... We saw Pacific tried to press higher up on the pitch, and when you're prepared for that, you can find the gaps in behind."

With the three points, Forge returned to the top of the table, with a one-point lead over Cavalry FC as the battle for the CPL Shield remains fierce with just 10 weeks to go in the regular season.

Box Score

Starting XIs

Forge FC: Bertaud; Bourgeois, Krutzen, Nimick, Jevremović; Jensen, Batisse, Paton; Sadek, Oketokoun, Massunda

Pacific FC: Himaras; Chung, Quintana, Belluz, Marshall; Gomulka, Piepgrass; Vales, Daniels, Toualy (Heard 53'); Hundal (Kratt 46')

Goals

57' - Ismael Oketokoun (Forge FC)
78' - Aghilas Sadek (Forge FC)

Discipline

15' - Yellow: Joshua Belluz (Pacific FC)