RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Cavalry FC vs. Forge FC | Sept. 19, 2026

Cavalry FC tightened their grip on the Canadian Premier League Shield on Saturday night, as a last-minute equalizer snatched them a 1-1 draw with title challengers Forge FC at ATCO Field.

League leaders, Cavalry remained four points clear at the top of the table with six games to play, as homegrown hero Owen Antoniuk — now a two-time villain to Forge fans — scored in stoppage time to bag a point for the Cavs at home.

As might be expected in a high-stakes match between two sides eyeing a trophy, the first half was a somewhat cagey affair. Cavalry staked their claim to the match as hosts, taking control of possession in the early going, but they weren't able to create many dangerous chances. The rival clubs were completely level in shots (five) and expected goals (0.16) when the referee called for halftime, sending them each to the locker rooms in search of new ways to break down their opponent.

Cavalry and Forge have been longtime foes in the Canadian Premier League, and after three previous meetings this season, it's clear that coaches Tommy Wheeldon Jr. and Bobby Smyrniotis both have a robust understanding of their opposite number.

So, the two teams generally neutralized one another for much of the game, which had the tension of a playoff match.

The second half was similarly well-matched from the get-go, although Forge did create a small breakdown in the Cavs defence near the hour mark. However, Cavalry keeper Nathan Ingham, who has been one of the league's best shot-stoppers in 2026, managed to play hero, parrying Ismael Oketokoun's attempt from inside the six-yard box.

Smyrniotis, perhaps frustrated with the game's cagey nature, decided to unleash his bench for the final 20 minutes. He deployed Tristan Borges, Noah Jensen and — most notably — Lucas Cavallini, handing a CPL debut to the marquee Canadian international striker.

The visitors' changes paid off soon after.

With just 10 minutes left to play, Forge blazed down the right side. The ball rolled across the box to an unmarked Noah Jensen, who broke the deadlock with his first goal of the season, a well-placed shot inside the right post.

That would no be the story of the game, however, as Cavalry had other plans to keep their lead in the Shield race.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, the hosts won a free kick in the attacking half. Tobias Warschewski feathered an excellent ball over the masses in the box to defender Amer Didić, who brought it down expertly and squared it for Antoniuk to smash into an empty net.

Antoniuk, a Calgary native who scored a stoppage-time winner the last time Forge visited ATCO Field, played hero again for the Cavs.

The dramatic finish took a couple more turns before all was said and done; Warschewski found himself sent off with a second yellow card for celebrating Antoniuk's goal in front of the Forge bench. Soon after, the Hammers had an FVS challenge for a late penalty denied.

Ultimately though, Cavalry saw out a 1-1 draw that suits them far more than it does Forge.

Forge manager Smyrniotis said as much postmatch, conceding that it was a frustrating way to drop points, particularly with one of his defenders forced off the pitch for an injury when Cavalry scored.

"It's a tough one. I think we've done everything to get three points in the game," Smyrniotis said. "These types of games come down to details. If you look at the tying goal, Antoine Batisse is off the field for one minute. There's a set-piece, and Didić gets on the ball. It's the little things that make the difference in the game. But it's a good effort from the guys, and what we know is somebody's going to have to be very close to perfect in the last six games, and whoever is will come out with the Shield."

This was the final time these teams will see each other in the regular season; if they were to meet again, it would be in the CPL Final.

After Saturday's result, it's starting to feel like that meeting would be in Calgary.

However, Cavalry boss Tommy Wheeldon Jr. told reporters on Saturday that he's not currently worried about hosting the Final. He wants the Shield.

"It's not about securing a Final at home," he said. "It's about the Shield. It's been won by Forge for two years running now, and it's time somebody else took it off them. That's what we're vying for, and everything else is secondary."

Box Score

Starting XIs

Cavalry FC: Ingham; Pearlman, Klomp, Didić, Kamdem-Fewo (Ofori 83'); H. Paton, Kobza; Camargo (Musse 57'), Warschewski, Edwards (Ntignee 57'); Elva (Antoniuk 74')

Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, James (Jensen 73'), Jevremović; Batisse, B. Paton; Bourgeois (Johnson 79'), Sadek (Wright 79'), Massunda (Borges 73'); Oketokoun (Cavallini 73')

Goals

80' - Noah Jensen (Forge FC)
90' - Owen Antoniuk (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

30' - Yellow: Harry Paton (Cavalry FC)
37' - Yellow: Hoce Massunda (Forge FC)
62' - Yellow: Manjrekar James (Forge FC)
68' - Yellow: Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
90+2' - 2nd Yellow: Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)
90+5' - Yellow: Lucas Cavallini (Forge FC)