RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Halifax Wanderers vs. Forge FC | July 25, 2025

Forge FC snapped their winless streak in Halifax, and extended their unbeaten streak in the league to 16 matches, with a 2-1 victory over the Wanderers on Friday night.

Substitute Maxim Filion scored the winner for Forge in the 88th minute on a lovely header after Ben Paton's brilliant opener was equalized by an equally well-taken goal from Ryan Telfer.

With the win, Forge FC go top of the table for the time being, two points ahead of Atlético Ottawa, who are in action on Saturday at Starlight Stadium.

In the seventh minute, Forge opened the scoring with an incredibly well-taken goal from Paton. The midfielder took a pass from Kyle Bekker, placed it on his left foot and hit an absolute screamer from distance that fooled Rayane Yesli.

Halifax came incredibly close to equalizing in the 13th minute, as Forge were way too casual playing out of the back, and Yohan Baï picked off a ball right outside the Forge area. His strike, however, was brilliantly stopped by Koleilat, and Forge were able to clear the rebound.

The hosts created some solid half chances in the moments following, largely off the boot of Baï, who made a couple of brilliant runs down the right wing, showing off his outstanding dribbling ability.

In the 23rd minute, Halifax tied the match with a stunning goal of their own. Lorenzo Callegari picked up the ball in midfield, and played an inch-perfect ball through the lines that curled into the box to Telfer. The Trinidad international deftly chipped the ball over Forge goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat with his first touch to equalize 1-1.

Halifax continued to create good chances, especially in transition, but after Callegari's brilliant delivery, couldn't quite make the final pass to unlock the Forge backline on a few different occasions.

In the 41st minute, slightly against the run of play, however, Forge had a great opportunity to regain the lead again from distance. This time it was Bekker who curled a brilliant shot, only to be denied by Yesli at full stretch.

Halifax had one more good chance before the half, as Callegari carried the ball forward into a dangerous area during stoppage time.

The teams traded shots on target in the opening minutes of the second half, but none of them truly threatened either keeper.

The hosts continued to press for a winner, and in the 63rd minute, captain Andre Rampersad won a free kick just outside the box. Telfer, however, hit a strike that was always rising and well over the net.

In the 70th minute, looking to change his side's attacking fortune, Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis elected to go to his bench and bring on David Choinière and Tristan Borges. Halifax countered by bringing on Giorgio Probo.

Hoce Massunda came within a foot of adding a third golazo to the match, as he looked to loft the ball over Yesli with a dipping strike from outside the box, but it went marginally over the net.

In the 88th minute, a pair of substitutes combined for Forge to take the lead. Bekker picked out Noah Jensen down the wing, and his cross into the box found the head of Filion who scored his second of the season to make it 2-1.

In stoppage time, Halifax nearly equalized again as Probo played a brilliant ball into the box for Adam Pearlman, whose header went just narrowly wide of the net. But despite putting all kinds of pressure on the Forge box they could not find another moment of magic.

Halifax have now lost three straight matches, a streak they will look to end next Monday when they host bottom-of-the-table Vancouver FC in their annual Natal Day match.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Halifax Wanderers: Yesli; Pearlman, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow, Timoteo; Callegari, Johnston, Rampersad (Probo 71'); Baï (Rea 59'), Telfer (Dias 85'), Coimbra (Bahamboula 85')

Forge FC: Koleilat; Rama, Achinioti-Jönsson, Nimick, Jevremović; Paton, Bekker, Babouli (Filion 82'); Massunda (Jensen 82'), Ampomah (Choinière 71'), Wright (Borges 71')

Goals

7' -- Ben Paton (Forge FC)
23' -- Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers)
88' -- Maxime Filion (Forge FC)

Discipline

24' — Yellow: Mo Babouli (Forge FC)
39' -- Yellow: Marko Jevremović (Forge FC)
45' -- Yellow: Andre Rampersad (Halifax Wanderers)
53' -- Yellow: Brian Wright (Forge FC)
90' -- Yellow: Wesley Timoteo (Halifax Wanderers)