The CPL Shield could be lifted in Hamilton on Saturday evening, and Forge FC don't need any outside help to do so. They take on York United in the final match of the 2025 regular season — simultaneous with the other three matches around the league — and know that a win or draw means Forge repeat as regular season winners.
Forge have a two-point advantage over second-place Atlético Ottawa heading into this final matchday, and with the head-to-head tiebreaker in hand, anything other than a loss would clinch them the Shield and its myriad benefits, like top playoff seeding and a Concacaf Champions Cup spot.
However, that's easier said than done against a York United team who also have something big to fight for on Saturday.
York, currently fifth in the table, are desperate to climb higher and earn themselves a home playoff match. They could finish as high as third, if they win and both Cavalry and the Halifax Wanderers lose. That would mean a week of rest, and a home game next weekend against whichever tired side comes out of the fourth-versus-fifth knockout match. Even finishing fourth, though, would be preferred, because they'd at least get to play that midweek game at home.
Both these sides come into The Outcome on Saturday needing a rebound performance after not managing to get all three points last week. York, in particular, left their final home game of the regular season very frustrated; they did manage a 2-2 draw with Pacific FC, but a poor first half put them down 2-0 early and all but erased their ability to get the win.
Forge played Cavalry FC in Alberta last Friday night, and likewise managed a draw, but they also weren't happy with how they played, having to survive and fight back after a poor start.
This match will likely have a playoff feel to it; both sides need a result, and will certainly play for the win.
"It definitely feels a little bit different because the margin of error is much shorter," York head coach Mauro Eustáquio said Friday. "We're in a position that you know every error, there might be a consequence that you can't bounce back from."
Adding to the context is the fact it's a 905 Derby; Forge and York have had some entertaining battles this year, with little to separate them. They've played to a draw twice, but Forge finally got the upper hand in their last meeting, a 2-1 win at York Lions Stadium. York actually haven't beaten the Hammers since May 2023, but that one was in Hamilton thanks to a 93rd-minute screamer by Brem Soumaoro.
That said, last time they met in Hamilton, York took the lead twice and perhaps should've won the match, but Forge's David Choinière saved the day with a 79th-minute equalizer.
At this stage in the season, neither manager will be particularly cautious with his lineup, and they both have mostly healthy squads to choose from. For York, the only player Mauro Eustáquio confirmed to be unavailable is centre-back Nyal Higgins; left-back Orlando Botello has been dealing with a knock, but should be ready to play. Eustáquio will also be grateful that Frank Sturing is once again eligible to play in his defence, after serving a one-match suspension last week.
Speaking of suspensions, Bobby Smyrniotis will be without right-back Rezart Rama on Saturday as he serves a one-game ban for yellow card accumulation. Otherwise, expect a full-strength team from Forge, who have rotated somewhat in the past few weeks but will undoubtedly field their best possible XI in a potential title-clinching game.
"The group's looking forward to it," Forge captain Kyle Bekker said this week. "These are the games you want to be playing in. We're on the eve of something special. This is what you want when you start a season, everyone obviously has the same goal in mind. The older you get, you realize that these games don't come around too often."
3 THINGS TO WATCH
- Forge keen to get attack going: Forge rarely lose, and have not lost on home turf at all this year, but Bobby Smyrniotis will be a little concerned that they've only won one of their last five league matches. In that stretch, they've scored eight goals — but four of them were in one game, a 4-0 triumph over Pacific. In both of the last two games, they've been held to a 1-1 draw, partly because of a lacklustre display up front. Heading into the playoffs, Smyrniotis needs his forward line to be able to finish the chances they generate. Forge have largely scored by committee this season, with 10 players having scored multiple goals, but Brian Wright has led the way with 10. He's in a good rhythm with two in his last three games, and if he puts another in the net on Saturday that would be a great sign heading into the playoffs.
- York playing must-win football: The only way for York to climb the table on Saturday is to get all three points. There's no point in scoreboard watching because if they don't win in Hamilton, it won't matter. So, Eustáquio and co. are treating this like a playoff game, where the margins are slim; they likely have to come out fairly aggressive and put their stamp on the match early, because it can be extremely difficult to break down Forge if they start strong and score first. Expect the Nine Stripes to deploy their trademark brand of football: aggressive and physical, with clever game management in key moments. They'll try to get under Forge's skin and prevent them from establishing a flow.
- Battle in midfield could decide it: Forge are well known for having one of the best midfields in the CPL, with a group that will likely feature Kyle Bekker, Alessandro Hojabrpour and Tristan Borges on Saturday — unless they turn to Noah Jensen or Harry Paton this week. If York are to win this game, they'll need the absolute best out of their own group in the middle. It's likely they put three men in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation, rather than the pair they would have in a 3-4-3, just to match Forge's numbers. Steffen Yeates and Kembo Kibato have formed an excellent partnership over the past few weeks, and with Leonel López playing in front of them carrying more attacking responsibility, Yeates and Kibato will be freed up to focus on disrupting the rhythm of Forge's attempts to play through midfield.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Forge FC: Koleilat; B. Paton, Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremović; Borges, Hojabrpour, Bekker; Babouli, Wright, Massunda
York United: Urtiaga; Ferrari, Sturing, Singh, Botello; Yeates, L. López, Kibato; Reid, Altobelli, Ferrin
ALL-TIME SERIES
Forge wins: 17 || York wins: 7 || Draws: 5
Last meeting:
Aug. 9, 2025 — York United 1-2 Forge FC
KEY QUOTES
"When you play the season, you prepare from the beginning to win a trophy, to try and be at the top of your game. This team has done a lot of excellent things, whether it's been in league action or outside. The quality of football, the number of players we've used, contributions from players, it's been a fantastic season, and it started on Jan. 5 which is a tough thing to do." - Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"[York] have got a young group with a lot of energy, and they were feeding off of that. That's always something you have to respect coming into it. We know they have talent on that side, just like anyone else in this league, and we have to respect that. Coming in, it's making sure that we have the right attitude, the right work rate, and trusting that our game plan will see it through." - Forge FC midfielder Kyle Bekker
"We're actually a team that right now we have nothing to lose, so I think we can shake off that pressure. At the end of the day, we're already in the playoffs. We want to finish in third, but if that doesn't happen, we're ready for the fourth-fifth game. I told the players to go for it, we have nothing to lose. We're in the playoffs. We go into games always thinking about three points, and this is no different for us." - York United head coach Mauro Eustáquio
"The pressure's on them. We're going to their place, and we want to win three points not just to finish third or as high as we can, but a good morale boost going into the playoffs would be amazing. ... We've done well in the past three games against [Forge] this year. We felt a little snakebitten this year against them a couple times, and probably should have beat them at their place." - York United defender Max Ferrari
