| Forge FC vs. Vancouver FC Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT Hamilton Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario Watch Live: OneSoccer, CBC Gem Tickets available here |
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The league leaders take on the hottest team in the Canadian Premier League on Friday night in Hamilton, as Vancouver FC travel to visit Forge FC.
There's a measure of revenge on the table for Vancouver, who played in this venue just over a month ago in a memorable Canada Day fixture. On that sweltering afternoon, VFC took a stunning 2-0 lead, only for the Hammers to adjust in the second half and come away with a 3-2 win.
Still, Vancouver impressed on that afternoon; they were the first visiting team to score in Hamilton this year. Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis put the blame on himself for VFC's early goals, having introduced a new tactical instruction that left his side exposed in transition. He told reporters on Thursday that he won't be trying that again this time against the Eagles.
Since that day, VFC have won every league match, which means they enter Friday on a four-game winning streak. They've been emphatic in recent victories, outscoring opponents 13-2.
Vancouver's surge has been fuelled by their ability to score with speed; they'd been creating ample chances all season, but now they're finding the net via the likes of Lys Mousset (three goals in the last three games) and Mohamed Amissi (seven goals this year).
The uptick in form has boosted Martin Nash's Eagles into third place in the CPL with 23 points. They don't have much margin for error, with Atlético Ottawa just two points behind, but VFC have serious ambitions of going to the CPL Playoffs for the first time in club history.
They'll aim to make another huge statement on Friday against a Forge team with very few blemishes on its record.
The Hammers are on top of the CPL standings with an 11-2-1 record and 35 points (and a game in hand on second-place Cavalry FC). Forge have been a suffocating opponent for most teams they've played, which is why they're in contention for a third straight CPL Shield title.
Forge are unbeaten in their last seven matches, and haven't lost a CPL game at Hamilton Stadium since last year's Playoffs.
However, they're not in perfect form this week. Forge played in Halifax last Sunday and were somewhat frustrated in a 0-0 draw with the Wanderers. They took 16 shots that afternoon, and four on target, but couldn't put one past Marco Carducci.
The Hammers' defence still remains almost impenetrable; centre-back duo Antoine Batisse and Dan Nimick have been outstanding as the club have conceded just eight goals in league play.
The CPL's stingiest defence will, therefore, try to shut down the league's most in-form attack on Friday, which should make for a tremendous matchup under the Hamilton lights.
NEWS & NOTES
- Vancouver FC announced Wednesday the club has signed 20-year-old midfielder Ben Lee. Coach Martin Nash said this week that the youngster is "one for the future," though he can help them hit the U-21 minutes quota this year as well.
- Three players — Forge's Zayne Bruno and Vancouver's Emrick Fotsing and Marsel Bibishkov — remain absent as they compete with Canada at the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, Batisse, Jevremović; Aromatario, Paton, Borges; Ampomah, Wright, Massunda
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Field, Proctor; Pecile, Ouattara; Bah, Mezquida, Amissi; Mousset
KEY QUOTES
"[Vancouver] is a team that thrives off of the transition, that's one thing that's evident. They're a quick team going forward. If you look back at that last game, it was two transition moments and a bit of our shape that was different that exposed us to that, so I don't think we'll be seeing that tomorrow. They're a team that attacks with numbers, and they want to attack quick, so you've got to make sure you limit those transition moments." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"The fact that we know we can be better is what continues to push us and continues to motivate us. I don't really think we've put it all together yet, which is kind of crazy to be sitting where we are right now in the table, and thinking we haven't really played our best brand of football yet." - Forge FC midfielder Noah Jensen
"We've just got to be confident going in, knowing we can put the ball in the back of the net against them. We're going to have to be very good defensively because they are talented and they're really good at home. It's not going to be an easy test." - Vancouver FC head coach Martin Nash
"The confidence has never dropped the whole season. We've been playing very good, it was just that we couldn't finish our chances. Now you see when we finish our chances, we can win games." - Vancouver FC forward Mohamed Amissi
