| Cavalry FC vs. Forge FC Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT ATCO Field in Calgary, Alta. Watch Live: OneSoccer, CBC Gem Tickets available here |
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Perhaps the most consequential match of the regular season so far kicks off Matchweek 22, as Cavalry FC host Forge FC at ATCO Field.
The top two sides in the Canadian Premier League will go head-to-head with just over a month left in the campaign. Cavalry enter the weekend on top of the table, with a four-point advantage over Forge in second.
This will be the Hamilton club's last opportunity to take points off Cavalry in the regular season, which makes this a pivotal six-pointer. If Forge win, they'll be one point back with six games to play.
If Cavalry win, the gap stretches to seven, which could be insurmountable with so few matches remaining.
Both teams arrive at this contest in good form. The Cavs have won five in a row, and seven of their last eight.
Last week's triumph at Pacific FC wasn't necessarily their most comprehensive win of the season, but Daan Klomp's 81st-minute header was enough for the three points.
Forge, meanwhile, stormed to a spectacular 3-0 win at home last Saturday against Atlético Ottawa. That triumph pulled the Hammers out of a somewhat sluggish stretch of matches, rejuvenating their attack. Maxime Bourgeois took the spotlight in that game, scoring twice to reward coach Bobby Smyrniotis for deploying him in a more attacking position than usual.
That performance carried Forge into Tuesday night's TELUS Canadian Championship semifinal clash, where they beat FC Supra du Québec 1-0 to win the tie 2-1 on aggregate. The victory sent Forge through to the CanChamp Final against CF Montréal, which they'll play on Oct. 21.
Before they can think about that, the Hammers have to contend with this trip to Alberta.
Forge haven't enjoyed their visits to ATCO Field recently; they haven't won in Calgary since the 2023 CPL Playoffs. Since then, they've gone 0-2-4. Last time they visited, Cavalry came from a goal down to win 2-1 against a Forge side that finished the match with nine men. On that occasion, Owen Antoniuk needed to play hero for the Cavs, scoring a stunning late goal from distance to win it for his hometown club.
However, Smyrniotis has said that he's not particularly worried about his team's record against Cavalry.
"I'm pretty sure we've won some pretty big games there," Smyrniotis said on Thursday.
“It's one thing to talk, and it's another thing in what's reality. That's just simple. I can sit here and say a lot of things, but the reality is, we've won some very important games there. That's the most important thing. After that, what the record is, how many games you've beaten an opponent, whether it's Inter, Cavalry, it's irrelevant when it comes to the next match.”
Still, there's absolutely no margin for error in the race for the CPL Shield, and the Concacaf Champions Cup spot that goes with it. Last time these sides met, Forge had two men sent off, such is the nature of the intensity in games between these two sides. Cavalry goalkeeper Nathan Ingham pointed out that the rivalry between the teams makes for a tricky job for a referee, who will have to try and manage what's sure to be a physical game.
Cavalry could strike a decisive blow in the Shield race, or Forge could reel them in. Either way, it's never boring when the CPL's longtime heavyweights clash.
NEWS & NOTES
- Forge FC can clinch a spot in the 2026 CPL Playoffs with a win on Saturday, or if Inter Toronto drop points against Halifax on Sunday.
- Cavalry forward Tobias Warschewski leads the CPL with nine assists, which is tied for the single-season record. He would break the record by recording one more.
- Forge FC announced Friday the club has signed Canadian men's national team striker Lucas Cavallini. He is considered available to play this weekend.
- Likewise, Cavalry acquired Owen Graham-Roache on loan from CF Montréal this week, and he could be in line for a CPL debut on Saturday as well.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Pearlman, Klomp, Didić, Kamdem; Kobza, H. Paton; Camargo, Warschewski, Edwards; Elva
Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, Batisse, Jevremović; Bourgeois, Aromatario, Borges; Sadek, Wright, Massunda
KEY QUOTES
"We've got to make sure we match [their intensity], but we also beat it with quality. If you said to us at the start of the season, we'd have an opportunity to play them, be four points up with seven games to go and they've got to come back to our house, we'd have snapped your hands off for it." - Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
"Getting into round four feels like you're 10 pounds lighter, because that middle section of the season is a bit of a gauntlet. It's exhausting, it's demanding mentally, physically, and when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it really changes the mood." - Cavalry FC goalkeeper Nathan Ingham
"It's always a nice one, you know you're going to get the best out of every player. You know you're going to get the best out of two teams, and that's going to make it always an entertaining match." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"Cavs are a tough opponent. They've always been good, they've always been solid, so we look forward to the challenge. It's always good to play tough opposition and push yourself." - Forge FC defender Dan Nimick
