The playoff race, as well as the title race, may have taken a different turn for the final stretch of the season following FC Supra’s victory over Forge FC (1-0).
A penalty earned by Matisse Chrétien after a foul by Antoine Batisse and converted by Loïc Kwemi in the first half allowed the Quebec side to win its first match of the season against Forge FC.
The victory also gives them a boost in the playoff race, bringing them to within five points of Vancouver FC, whom they will face on the next matchday.
“Today, we broke through several barriers. Our first clean sheet, we beat the best team in the league. We deserved to win. It’s the accumulation of all the work that allowed us to put all the pieces together today, and that’s satisfying,” said coach Nick Razzaghi.
For Forge FC, this defeat hurts. It is their third loss in their last five matches and, more importantly, leaves the Hamilton side under threat from Cavalry for the top spot. The Albertans face Vancouver, and a victory would give them a two-point lead at the top of the standings.
Kyle Bekker, after the match, said nothing different, describing the result as “disappointing.”
While the result is disappointing, the fact is that Supra deserved its victory, as it created the best chances, and without a great performance from Dimitry Bertaud in goal, Forge FC would have left with a heavier defeat.
The Ontario goalkeeper produced two excellent and authoritative saves at important moments in the match. In the first half, he denied Loïc Kwemi, who had worked his way free of the defense with a series of dribbles that have become his trademark.
He then prevented Ibrahim Condé from adding to the score late in the match, after the striker had beaten his defender with a control… using the back of his neck.
FC Supra did not dominate the match from start to finish, but it was clearly the more dangerous team.
In addition to Bertaud’s decisive saves, Sean Rea and Riad Bey both had attempts, while young Alexander Makarova did not put enough power behind his point-blank header in the first half.
In general, Forge FC never really managed to create many major chances throughout the match.
Even though they were able, in spells, to impose their tempo, keep possession and establish themselves in the attacking third, they came up against an outstanding Abou Sissoko in midfield and a central defensive pairing in which Matisse Chrétien and 17-year-old Eliakim Awonongbadje excelled.
“In terms of intensity, we raised the level, and that’s what was needed,” said Joakim Milli. “We have sometimes lacked experience this season, but we are in a continuous learning process. We may fall back again, but we proved that we are capable of doing it,” he continued.
The next matches will be just as important for both teams, who will meet again in the Canadian Championship on September 1.
For FC Supra, the next two matches will see them travel to Vancouver before hosting the Halifax Wanderers, meaning two direct competitors in the playoff race.
For Forge FC, the focus will be on bouncing back after this difficult stretch. In addition to the Canadian Championship, two Ontario derbies against Inter Toronto and Atlético Ottawa are on the schedule.
The final-season sprint may have started tonight for both teams.
Box Score
Starting XIs
FC Supra: Milli; Lebeuf, Chrétien, Awonongbadje, Auguste; Sissoko, Elkalkouli (Choinière; 71’), Rea (Fernandez; 86’); Bey (Condé; 46’), Makarova (Biello; 71’), Kwemi (Dos Santos; 88’)
Forge FC: Bertaud; Jevremovic, Nimick, Krutzen, Bourgeois; Bekker (Fillion; 65’), Batisse (Aromatario; 49’), Paton (Jensen; 77’); Massunda (Ampomah, 65’), Sadek, Oketokoun (Babouli, 65’)
Goals
37' - Loic Kwemi (FC Supra) (penalty)
Discipline
26' - Yellow: Loic Kwemi (FC Supra)
28' - Yellow: Charles Auguste (FC Supra)
36' - Yellow: Antoine Batisse (Forge FC)
59' - Yellow: Aghilas Sadek (Forge FC)
76' - Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (FC Supra)
90+6' - Yellow: Zachary Fernandez (FC Supra)
90+8' - Yellow: Maxime Fillion (Forge FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Eliakim Awonongbadje (FC Supra)
Eliakim Awonongbadje celebrated his first start with an outstanding performance. Strong in duels, clean in his distribution and positioning, the young centre-back had an excellent game. He was not the only FC Supra player to perform well tonight, but for his first start, he exceeded expectations.
What's Next?
FC Supra hosts Forge FC again in the Canadian Championship on September 1.
In the CPL, FC Supra travels to Vancouver FC on September 6, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
Forge FC hosts Inter Toronto in the Ontario derby on September 5, 7 p.m. ET.