FC Supra du Québec VS Forge FC
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After seeing their post-World Cup return postponed due to torrential rains that flooded Calgary ahead of their scheduled match against Cavalry FC, FC Supra will finally return to the pitch to face the league's heavyweights, Forge FC. Although they were pushed to the limit by a valiant Vancouver FC squad in their own return to action, the CPL's comfortable leaders are heading to Quebec looking to extend their advantage at the top of the table. For Supra, the stakes are completely different: they need to keep pace in the playoff race.
While this matchup is by no means a "clash of extremes" between two sides on completely opposite trajectories, it is clear that both teams find themselves in very different situations.
As is often the case, Forge FC is playing a starring role in the Canadian Premier League (CPL). Sitting at 28 points from 11 matches—built on nine wins, one draw, and just a single loss—Forge is setting a relentless pace at the top of the standings that only Cavalry FC (2nd, 23 points in 10 matches) has managed to keep up with so far.
A quick glance at the table illustrates Forge's dominant form. Third-place Atlético Ottawa sits 11 points behind them, while the Halifax Wanderers and Inter Toronto, in fourth and fifth place respectively, trail the leaders by a massive 16 points after 11 matches.
FC Supra, on the other hand, has collected 11 points from nine matches. With one or two games in hand compared to most CPL teams, Supra's playoff outlook is far from catastrophic, but it is also a far cry from Forge's much more enviable position.
The objective for FC Supra is clear: improve their points tally and standing in the table to pull away from seventh-place Vancouver FC (who are level on points but have played two more matches), while remaining firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Forge FC firing on all cylinders; FC Supra still finding their footing
Riding a four-game winning streak, Forge FC is a team whose primary strength is difficult to single out, simply because they are so well-balanced across the entire squad.
On offence, Forge is clicking nicely. They can rely on impact players who know the club and the league inside out, such as Tristan Borges, Hoce Massunda, Nana Ampomah, and Brian Wright. The latter currently sits second in the league's Golden Boot race with four goals.
Forge also boasts a rock-solid defence, anchored by the central defensive pairing of Dan Nimick and Antoine Bâtisse, arguably the most dependable duo in the league. In goal, Dimitry Bertaud, who joined the club this season, has established himself as one of the league's top and most spectacular shot-stoppers.
The statistics speak for themselves: Forge has the league's second-best defensive record, having conceded just six goals (only one more than Cavalry's league-leading defence). Bertaud has already kept seven clean sheets this season, the highest tally in the league. Furthermore, the two goals conceded in their last match against Vancouver FC look like an anomaly; it was only the second time this season, and the first since a 2-1 loss to Atlético Ottawa on May 24, that Forge has allowed two goals in a single CPL match.
However, one statistic offers a potential opening for FC Supra: Forge FC has conceded all six of their goals this season in the second half.
Nick Razzaghi’s men will look for opportunities to step on the gas in the second half. That might be easier said than done, though, as FC Supra is still struggling to dictate the tempo of matches. In their last outing against Ottawa, Supra led 3-1 at halftime before shipping four goals in the second half to lose 5-3.
This has been a consistent trend: out of the 14 goals Supra has conceded, 11 have come in the second half.
At the same time, Supra has shown they can produce late offence, scoring eight of their 13 goals in the final 45 minutes. There is plenty of potential for an entertaining and unpredictable match here, much like the first encounter between these two sides. Back in May, Forge FC edged out a narrow 1-0 victory on home turf.
This fixture also kicks off a busy week of Quebec-Ontario derbies for both clubs. Following this match, Forge FC will head out to face CS Saint-Laurent in the Canadian Championship, while FC Supra will square off against Atlético Ottawa in the same tournament.
News & Notes:
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This is the second meeting of the season between Forge FC and FC Supra du Québec. Forge won the first encounter 1-0.
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Forge FC has a fully healthy squad available.
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For Supra, goalkeeper Joakim Milli has returned to full training. Zachary Fernandez has resumed contact training.
Projected Starting XIs:
FC Supra: Diop; Auguste, Ferdinand, Chrétien, Abzi; Biello, Sissoko, Boughanmi; Choinière, Rea, Kwemi
Forge FC: Bertaud; Jevremovic, Nimick, Bâtisse, Rama; Aromatario, Paton; Massunda, Borges, Ampomah; Wright
Citations importantes
"I think at the start of the match, it might look like we haven’t played in a while, but I believe we will put together a very good performance after that, and I'm looking forward to it. It’s important for the guys to have realistic expectations early on—we need to find our rhythm quickly, stay stable and patient, and remain aware that the flow will come. Forge just played two days ago, and their start to the game wasn't easy. The guys know they need to give everything early on, but we also have to let the rhythm and the match come to us. As the game goes on, we'll find our stride." - FC Supra head coach Nick Razzaghi
"Supra is a good opponent that plays good football. We just need to focus on what we have to do in this match. We've played in difficult situations—games every three days, or with long stretches in between—and we’ve managed that well. We are doing a good job managing the players, so I'm not too worried about squad rotation. The beauty of it is that we have everyone available." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
