| Cavalry FC vs. Forge FC Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. MT /5 p.m. ET ATCO Field in Calgary, Alberta Watch Live: OneSoccer Tickets available here |
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First place in the Canadian Premier League table is up for grabs this weekend, as league leaders Forge travel to second-place Cavalry for a clash at ATCO Field on Saturday.
With just one point separating Forge and Cavalry (although Forge has a game in hand), this game could be quite crucial when it comes to determining the CPL Shield race.
The first of two meetings between these two sides at ATCO Field over the next month and a half, a fierce matchup is expected as a result of that, given what is at stake for both.
After Forge picked up four out of six points in their first two meetings of the season against Cavalry, which both came at Hamilton Stadium, the pressure will be on Cavalry to respond with two big home performances.
For what it's worth, Cavalry have had a pretty good record at home against Forge as of late - Cavalry have won five and drawn four of their last 10 home games against Forge, who have won just once at ATCO Field across that span.
Because of that, Cavalry will want to embrace the pressure that will come with hosting a game like this, as they've never shied away from wanting to be good at home.
Their record in 2026 reflects that - they're the only CPL team yet to lose at home this season, having won five and drawn two of the seven league games they've played at ATCO Field.
Therefore, while they've had a bit of a strange stretch in CPL play, as they've drawn two and lost one of their last five league games, they'll be boosted by the fact that they've won their last two home games by a combined score of 7-1.
"We've been fortunate enough to do what we need to do to be in a place now with two home games against (Forge), and three home games at home in the next bit," Cavalry head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said. "We've played more games away from home at just over the halfway point of the season than we will on the back half, and I think that matters."
"So, to take points off Forge and to leapfrog them would turn the tables and change the mindset."
Forge, meanwhile, are reeling after suffering just their second defeat of the season, as they fell 1-0 to Vancouver FC last weekend.
Not only was that the first time they've lost at home in regular-season play since 2024, but that also snapped a seven-game unbeaten run in CPL play, one across which they had won an impressive six games.
Safe to say, they enter this game with a bit of a chip on their shoulder because of that, as they missed the opportunity to extend their lead over Cavalry to as much as four points, which would've been pretty substantial given the game in hand they still hold.
Of course, though, it can't be forgotten that neither of these teams have had much of a problem getting up for these types of games against one another. Typically, when they meet, usually something's on the line, whether that's a top-of-the-table regular season clash or a fierce playoff battle.
This game will be no exception, although you'll imagine that Forge will have their away record in Calgary at the top of their mind in this latest visit to the city, even if they won't outright admit it.
"It's obviously an important game at this part of the season," Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis said ahead of this game. "You're just past the midway point, and we just need to go there and be our good selves."
"Just watching some of the things we've done in the last games, and some of the things they've been doing, I think it's going to be a very good matchup."
NEWS & NOTES
- Cavalry FC midfielder Eryk Kobza is unavailable due to a yellow-card accumulation suspension
- Cavalry's Adam Pearlman is one yellow card away from an accumulation suspension of his own
- Forge's Zayne Bruno could potentially be available for selection after returning from international duty with Canada's U20 team
- Cavalry's Daan Klomp was in full training this week after missing his team's 1-1 draw vs. FC Supra du Québec - Michael Baldisimo and Goteh Ntignee look set to miss out, per Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Cavalry FC: Ingham; Pearlman, Klomp, Didić, Kamdem; Camargo, Paton; Musse, Edwards; Warschewski, Elva
Inter Toronto: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, Batisse, Jevremovic; Borges, Bekker, Paton; Ampomah, Oketokoun; Johnson
KEY QUOTES
"Now, it's down to us, and the opportunity lies with us. It's about what we do with this opportunity that will really tell us where we go. But I'm confident in the way the lads have trained; I see an excitement that they get to hold the microphone and write the narrative. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's match." - Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
"It's not necessarily that you need to be on the front foot over there (in Calgary). Maybe that is the game plan, maybe that isn't - we'll see on Saturday which one we elect to go with, because I think there are positives to pressing in certain areas, and there are also positives in being in a compact block and finding the spaces in different areas of the attack. We prepare for both as a coaching staff and as a team, and the players understand what we need to do. But yeah, the most important thing is that the compete level has to be top because we know that's very important in these matches." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
