Vancouver FC won a fifth straight league match on Friday night, as they beat league leaders Forge FC 1-0 in Hamilton.
It was a testy affair, with a few controversial moments that left Forge fuming at the final whistle, but the Eagles continued their red-hot form with another statement victory.
The opening half-hour was fairly uneventful, as the two familiar foes attempted to set the tempo and find the spaces in a tightly-contested match.
The match came alive shortly before halftime, though.
Vancouver, having steadily grown into the game, pressed into the attacking third looking for gaps in Forge's well-organized defence.
Thierno Bah found one; his quick footwork carried him through the right half-space toward the box, where he fed a perfectly timed through ball to Damiano Pecile. The midfielder Pecile finished clinically, and Vancouver took the lead — not without controversy, of course.
Bah's pass was perfectly timed because Pecile was a step behind the Forge backline, but onside by a hair's breadth thanks to the CPL's 'daylight' offside rule in effect this year.
Despite Forge's protests, a lengthy check with the Football Video Support system led to the goal being given, and Vancouver took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Eagles opened the second half with energy as they looked to add to their lead. They nearly did so just nine minutes in, but Lys Mousset's attempt to direct in a low cross couldn't beat a heroic reflex save by Dimitry Bertaud.
VFC keeper Callum Irving returned the favour down at the other end seconds later, when he denied Nana Ampomah from a one-on-one attempt.
Around the hour mark, Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis made a tactical shift that worked for him last time the team fell behind against Vancouver; he put Daniel Krutzen into the game at centre-back, pushing Antoine Batisse into midfield to help set the tempo further up the pitch.
The hosts were certainly the more aggressive team from then on, peppering Vancouver's penalty area with attempts. Irving made another miraculous save on Ismael Oketokoun, who had also hit the crossbar seconds before.
Frustration doubled for Forge around the 75th minute. It looked like they'd finally found their equalizer, but another FVS check confirmed the on-field decision that Dan Nimick had handled the ball shortly before the goal.
In spite of Forge's repeated waves of attack in the dying moments of the game, it just wasn't their day; Vancouver held on for a fifth consecutive league win, handing Forge their first regular season loss at home since Oct. 12, 2024.
In fact, Vancouver are the only visiting CPL side to score at Hamilton Stadium in 2026, and they have now done so in both of their away matches against Forge.
Martin Nash's Eagles thus strengthened their grip on third place, while Forge now have to watch the scoreboard this weekend. If Cavalry FC beat FC Supra on Saturday night, they'll take over first place in the CPL.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama (Bourgeois 76'), Nimick, Batisse, Jevremović; Paton, Bekker (Krutzen 62'); Ampomah (Oketokoun 62'), Borges (Jensen 67'), Johnson (Massunda 46'); Sadek
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Field, Proctor; Polisi, Pecile; Bah, Mezquida (Ouattara 90+4'), Amissi (Gee 85'); Mousset (Campbell 62')
Goals
44' - Damiano Pecile (Vancouver FC)
Discipline
39' - Yellow: Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)
48' - Yellow: Ben Paton (Forge FC)
68' - Yellow: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
86' - Yellow: Nicolas Mezquida (Vancouver FC)
88' - Yellow: Maxime Bourgeois (Forge FC)
90+5' - Yellow: Antoine Batisse (Forge FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Callum Irving, Vancouver FC
Vancouver did well in midfield and attack, but they wouldn't have this result without a few exceptional saves to deny Forge's incessant waves of attack.
What's Next?
Vancouver's next action will be on Friday, Aug. 14 at home in a B.C. derby against Pacific FC (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). Forge will also head west this week, as they travel to Calgary for a matchup with Cavalry FC on Saturday, Aug. 15 (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT).