RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Vancouver FC | July 5, 2025

For the first time since 2023, Forge FC defeated Vancouver FC at home, 2-1 on Saturday at Hamilton Stadium.

Maxime Filion's first professional goal stood as the winner, with a Matteo Campagna own goal, and Vasco Fry's late effort rounding out the scoring.

Forge remain undefeated in the league this season through 13 matches, one shy of the club and CPL record of 14 straight set in 2019.

Speaking of records, Forge FC's starting lineup featured Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, making his 200th appearance for the club -- the first player in the league's history to achieve this milestone. It also saw a first-ever professional appearance for 20-year-old goalkeeper Dino Bontis.

Despite the evening heat in Hamilton, both sides pressed each other relentlessly through the opening minutes, each looking to take control of the match. A number of half-chances in the early stages were a result of the two sides dispossessing one another close to their own box.

Bontis was forced into a fairly comfortable first save in the 10th minute, as off of a corner kick, Kunle Dada-Luke found himself alone at the back post, but his tame volleyed effort was straight into the Forge debutant's chest.

In the 23rd minute, some lovely build-up play for Forge saw David Choinière break in alone down the right. His dangerous cross was initially inadvertently headed goalward by Kunle Dada-Luke toward his own net. Irving kept that one out, but the rebound dropped to Rezart Rama, whose header deflected off of Campagna and into the net for an own goal. The moment of calamitous defending gave Forge a 1-0 lead.

Forge found a lot of joy in the first half, particularly down the right flank. In his first start in the past eight matches, Choinière created the majority of Forge's attacking moments, but couldn't take advantage in the final moment.

Vancouver, however, nearly equalized completely against the run of play in the 42nd minute. Dan Nimick was caught on the ball trying to dribble out of the back, but Vasco Fry's low strike hit the post.

Forge had one more chance before half-time, as again Choinière played a beautiful ball through the lines which Hoce Massunda laid off for Kyle Bekker. The Forge captain, however, smashed the ball over the net.

The visitors added Nicolás Mezquida to the mix at the half, and he instantly made an impact in terms of their intensity. In the 52nd minute, Vancouver again came painfully close to scoring. Emrick Fotsing dispossessed Rezart Rama out wide, and the ball was worked into the middle for Henri Godbout, who beat Bontis, only for Rama to redeem himself and clear the ball off the line.

Vancouver FC kept pressing, asking questions of the Forge backline. In the 61st minute, Fotsing picked out Pathé Ndiaye behind that line, but the Vancouver striker sent the ball into the side of the net.

In the 70th minute, Forge made a triple substitution, bringing on Filion, Tristan Borges and Amadou Koné.

The substitutes quickly combined to extend Forge's lead. In the 73rd minute, Massunda played a curling cross to the back post, which Borges headed into the path of Filion, who tapped home his first CPL goal.

In the 76th minute, a scary-looking collision resulted in a medical delay to attend to Fotsing. The Vancouver midfielder was conscious and alert when taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. The club will provide further updates.

Vancouver made three substitutions of their own after the restart, bringing on Thomas Powell, Mehdi Essoussi and Allan Enyou.

Filion nearly had a second in the 82nd minute, as Amadou Kone beat his man down the line and crossed for the striker, but he could not get his shot from close range on target.

Vancouver had a bunch of opportunities in the later stages of the match to get on the board, none better than Ndiaye from close range in the 86th minute, forcing a good reaction save from Bontis.

However, Forge were forced to remove Bontis from the game in the 89th minute through injury, with Chris Kalongo coming into the match. Kalongo was quickly called into action, as Elage Bah forced a good save from the substitute keeper.

In the third minute of stoppage time, however, Vancouver found a goal. Forge fell asleep at the back, allowing Bah to pick out Fry in the middle whose low strike beat Kalongo to cut the score to 2-1.

With the victory, Forge FC move within one point of league leaders Atlético Ottawa, who they meet next in league action on Saturday, July 12. Next up, however, they turn their attentions towards CF Montréal and the second leg of the Canadian Championship on Wednesday.

Vancouver FC are also in Canadian Championship action, against Cavalry FC on Tuesday night at ATCO Field.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Forge FC: Bontis (Kalongo 89'); Rama, Achinioti-Jönsson, Nimick, Paton; Kane (Jevremović 23'), Bekker, Jensen (Borges 70'); Choinière (Koné 70'), Massunda, Wright (Filion 70')

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke (Gee 63'), O'Connor, Campagna (Enyou 76'), Bah; Norman Jr. (Essoussi 76'), Fry; Godbout, Batista (Mezquida 46'), Fotsing (Powell 76'), Ndiaye

Goals

23' -- Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC) (Own Goal)
74' -- Maxime Filion (Forge FC)
90+3' -- Vasco Fry (Vancouver FC)

Discipline

36' -- Yellow: Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC)
60' -- Yellow: Ben Paton (Forge FC)
90+7' -- Yellow: Allan Enyou (Vancouver FC)