The 2026 Canadian Premier League season kicked off in Hamilton on Saturday, as Forge FC defeated Atlético Ottawa 2-0 to begin their CPL Shield defence.
The Hammers, enacting a measure of revenge on the reigning champions Atleti after losing to them in the playoffs last year, thus became the first side to pick up points in this new campaign.
To start the new season, both managers offered a few surprises in their lineups. Forge, missing some key players due to injury, were in their familiar 4-3-3, but with a midfield of Tristan Borges (wearing the captain's armband with Kyle Bekker out), Mo Babouli and Anthony Aromatario. Atleti, meanwhile, had Tristan Crampton making his professional debut in goal with Garissone Innocent out with a knock.
It didn't take long for the drama to begin. Less than 20 minutes into the afternoon, Atleti keeper Tristan Crampton brought down Forge's Brian Wright in the box, and the referee awarded the hosts a penalty.
Although Ottawa challenged the call — initiating the first Football Video Support review in CPL history — the penalty was upheld. Wright took it himself, scoring coolly to give Forge the lead with the first goal of the season.
The Hammers remained on the front foot after taking the lead, and peppered the Ottawa area. Despite having less of the ball than their opponents, Forge were more dangerous, and they neutralized Atleti entirely, keeping them to zero shots or touches in the box in the first half.
The second frame continued in similar fashion; Forge continued to press, and Wright nearly added a second goal with a shot from distance that hit the post.
Soon enough, the hosts did break through again. Forge drove forward and won a corner, after Crampton failed to collect a through ball and instead tapped it out of play. On the ensuing set-piece, Borges whipped it in well, and Antoine Batisse kept it in the air, heading it to Ben Paton for a volleyed finish in the six-yard box.
Atleti became more spirited in the final 15 minutes or so, particularly after making a few key substitutions, but the additions of Jonantan Villal, Emiliano Garcia and Jean-Aniel Assi were not enough to create a goal.
In the end, Forge saw out the victory relatively comfortably, wrapping up a 2-0 result to pick up an early clean sheet on home turf.
The stats sheet from the match echoes the scoreline; Forge generated 10 shots and 21 touches in the box, despite having just 34.9 per cent possession.
Ottawa, meanwhile, attempted 590 passes — 284 more than Forge — and yet did not manage to take a single shot, in a frustrating afternoon for their attack.
NEWS & NOTES
- Twelve players made their CPL debuts on Saturday: Forge FC's Dimitry Bertaud, Antoine Batisse, and Anthony Aromatario started, while Maxime Bourgeois, Ismael Oketokoun and Noah Bickford came off the bench. For Atlético Ottawa: Tristan Crampton, Daniel Aguilar, and Erling Myklebust in the starting XI, plus Marko Stojadinovic, Emiliano Garcia and Jonantan Villal.
- This game was the first professional match in the world to be played with the 'daylight' offside rule. The CPL is hosting a trial of the alternative law this year, in collaboration with FIFA. For more details, go to CPLSoccer.com/offside-trial.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Batisse, Jevremović, Paton; Borges (Bourgeois 90+2'), Aromatario, Babouli; Tavernier (Oketokoun 67'), Wright (Filion 81'), Massunda (Bickford 90+2')
Atlético Ottawa: Crampton; Kozlovskiy (Timoteo 86'), Abatneh, Duhaney-Walker; Antinoro, Aparicio, Castro (Stojadinovic 86'), Aguilar (Assi 75'), Coulanges (Garcia 75'); Tabla (Villal 75'), Myklebust
Goals
21' — Brian Wright (Forge FC) (Penalty)
68' — Ben Paton (Forge FC)
Discipline
56' — Yellow: Juan Castro (Atlético Ottawa)
61' — Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)
65' — Yellow: Tyr Duhaney-Walker (Atlético Ottawa)
73' — Yellow: Anthony Aromatario (Forge FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Ben Paton, Forge FC
Playing a unique role as a left-back who stepped into midfield quite frequently, Paton was instrumental for Forge. He scored the second goal with a well-taken volley, won six duels and made 10 passes in the final third.
What’s next?
Both sides are on the road next Sunday, April 12. Ottawa head to Alberta to play Cavalry FC (4 p.m. ET), while Forge will be in Langley to take on Vancouver FC (7 p.m. ET).
For broadcast details of the 2026 CPL season, go to cplsoccer.com/watch.