Forge FC vs. FC Supra du Québec
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Although they have already faced each other twice this season, with two (narrow) wins for the Ontarians, Forge FC and FC Supra are set to intensify their rivalry over the coming weeks. This matchup is indeed the first of a series of four games in which the two teams will face each other. Forge FC will travel to Quebec on August 28 for a Canadian Premier League matchup, while the Canadian Championship semifinals will see the two teams meet again on September 1 and 15.
In the standings, each team has its own challenges, with Forge FC eyeing the regular-season title and FC Supra looking to qualify for the playoffs in its inaugural season.
For Forge FC, the momentum is no longer positive. Longtime CPL leaders, Bobby Smyrniotis' men surrendered top spot to Cavalry after a 2-1 defeat in the top-of-the-table clash against the Albertans. As if that wasn't enough, the defeat also deprives Forge FC of its two starting fullbacks, Rezart Rama and Marko Jevremovic, against Supra, as both were sent off against Cavalry. Second place in the standings must nevertheless be put into perspective, as Forge FC has played one fewer game than Cavalry. In short, if they beat Supra, Forge FC will reclaim top spot.
The Ontarians will nevertheless have to tighten a few bolts. The league's best defense during the first half of the season, Forge FC has now surrendered that position to Cavalry. Although it has conceded just 11 goals in 16 games this season, Forge FC has conceded 4 of those 11 goals in its last 4 matches. Offensively, things have not been much better in August, as it has scored just one goal in its last 3 games.
Of course, not everything should be thrown away, and it would be a mistake to believe that Forge FC is no longer what it used to be. In goal, Dimitry Bertaud remains the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets this season, with 8 games without conceding a goal. By comparison, Joakim Milli, in goal for Supra, has recorded none.
FC Supra has no choice, if it still wants to hope for a playoff berth, but to pick up points. The latest defeat against Atlético Ottawa (1-2) leaves the Quebec side 9 points behind fourth place, although it has one more game to play: the one against Forge.
To climb back up the standings, FC Supra will have to learn from its mistakes, starting with the first one: learning how to finish games. Of the 25 goals the team has conceded, 19 have come in the second half.
The attacking players, who were effective for part of the season, will also have to rediscover their form. If we exclude the goal he scored in the Canadian Championship, Sean Rea has not scored since June 9. He has also not provided an assist since that date, meaning he has gone 7 games without one.
Loïc Kwemi, tied for the league lead with 8 goals, has scored 1 goal in his last 3 games, again excluding the Canadian Championship.
A crazy schedule
For both teams, the coming weeks are set to be extremely busy, with an average of one game every three days until mid-September. Recovery will be one of the key factors for both teams. Nevertheless, Supra head coach Nick Razzaghi has made a habit of rotating his squad from one game to the next and can therefore rely on a core of 16 to 18 players in good rhythm. For Forge FC, squad depth, combining experience and youth, has long been a club philosophy and allows the coaching staff to have several options.
The starting XIs could therefore contain a few surprises (or at least some changes), without necessarily affecting the quality of the teams fielded.
NEWS & NOTES
- Sent off against Cavalry, Forge FC's two fullbacks, Jevremovic and Rama, are suspended.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Forge FC: Bertaud; Bourgeois, Nimick, Batisse, Krutzen; Paton, Aromatario; Borges, Ampomah, Massunda; Oketokoun
FC Supra: Milli; Abzi, Ferdinand, Chrétien, Auguste; Biello, Mlah, Rea; Choinière, Bayiha, Kwemi
KEY QUOTES
"We need to turn the page [on the defeat against Ottawa] and get back to work. With the group, we said that the problem was significant, but that there was a simple and clear solution: taking responsibility under pressure. We don't have to change who we are or what we do. We need to be more consistent and focused in the important moments." - FC Supra head coach Nick Razzaghi
"The poor results are not a cause for panic, but they are a reminder that we're not invincible. Obviously, we had a great start to the year, but it's the work we do every day that gives us the results, and we absolutely need to get back to that. We're not thinking about the Canadian Championship matchup yet, just this game. We're going to play them as a team and try to exploit their weaknesses while using our strengths." - Forge FC defender Dan Nimick
"The most important thing is to focus on the process and the results. We had a few games earlier in the year where we didn't play our best football and we got the 3 points. The match against Cavalry was a crazy game, where we received the two red cards, but in the Vancouver game, we played good football, we created a lot of chances, probably the best chances, and it didn't end that way. We're going to have those moments throughout the season." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
