| Forge FC vs. Pacific FC Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT Hamilton Stadium in Hamilton, Ont. Watch Live: OneSoccer, TSN Tickets available here |
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Forge FC will make up their game in hand in the CPL regular season title race on Wednesday as they host Pacific FC at Hamilton Stadium.
They sit five points behind league leaders Cavalry FC with four matches remaining, but will be kicking themselves that they aren't closer.
Forge had a huge chance to gain significant ground this past weekend. After Cavalry lost two matches in Matchweek 24, Forge were leading 3-1 heading into stoppage time, before two late goals from the Halifax Wanderers, both very preventable, cost them two points.
It was the third straight match that Forge led before squandering the lead. That's a vital six points dropped in the CPL title race. The most they had ever dropped in a full CPL season was nine, showing how out of character this is for the club.
Pacific, meanwhile, travel to Hamilton after their worst loss of the season, 5-0 against FC Supra du Québec in Laval.
Manager Terry Dunfield said that he felt his side gave five gifts to the Québec club, and that there will be consequences for that level of performance in terms of who is selected to start on Wednesday.
Forge have won the past six meetings between the two clubs, and Pacific were held scoreless in all six. The Tridents have been shut out in nine of their past twelve against Forge, scoring just three goals in that stretch.
This is the penultimate regular-season home match for Forge, who have lost just once this season at Hamilton Stadium. Facing Inter Toronto at home in their final home match on Thanksgiving, nothing short of six points from those final two home matches will be the goal before they head out on the road to finish the season.
The two sides meet again on the final day of the season at Royal Athletic Park. So if Forge still want a shot at a CPL Shield repeat, Pacific are standing in their way.
NEWS & NOTES
- Pacific FC's Yann Toualy has been ruled out for Wednesday's match after an injury against FC Supra du Québec.
- Forge will still be without goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud for Wednesday's clash as he remains on international duty with DR Congo. Mo Babouli, meanwhile, is unavailable through injury.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Forge FC: Bontis; Rama, Nimick, James, Jevremović; Batisse, Aromatario, Jensen; Borgeois, Cavallini, Massunda
Pacific FC: Melvin; Keshavarz, Quintana, Konincks, Greco-Taylor; Gomulka, Juhmi; Vales, Daniels, Kratt; Díaz
KEY QUOTES
"You need to be focused, you need to be humble as a group, and make sure you're focused on what you need to do. And don't let the game get loose; that's the most important thing for tomorrow." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"At the end of the day, we need to manage the game. At the end, we have to make the clearance. We can't dilly-dally. We have to take no risks, and we also have to communicate." - Forge FC goalkeeper Dino Bontis
"It's an important opportunity, a nice challenge. We've got a plan in place... and we're gonna go put things right." - Pacific FC head coach Terry Dunfield
"Against any of the top teams in this league, a result away from home is big. The belief that we have in the group that we can play with anyone in this league is high, so we just need to go out there and show it tomorrow." - Pacific FC midfielder Aidan Daniels
