RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Pacific FC | October 07, 2026

Forge FC shortened the gap between them and the top of the table on Wednesday night, as they beat Pacific FC 3-0 in Hamilton to draw within two points of CPL Shield race leaders Cavalry FC.

With a decisive win at home, the Hammers also officially clinched a spot in the top two, ensuring that they'll host the second leg of their CPL semifinal tie in November.

Forge, eager to make good use of their game in hand on Cavalry in the Shield race, started the match on the front foot, driving into the attacking third within the first minute. The Hammers created a handful of half-chances in the box fairly quickly, threatening with quick switches of play to try and create space between Pacific's lines. Forge's attack was well-organized in its movement, particularly off the ball, although the Tridents held off the early waves of pressure and settled into the game.

Still Forge controlled the tempo, though; their mid-block in defence prevented Pacific from connecting passes into the final third, repeatedly allowing the hosts to reclaim possession.

As the first half carried on, Forge threw more and more attempts into Pacific's box, but frustration began to set in as the Hammers struggled to turn final-third possession into shots on target. They produced 19 touches in the box in the first 40 minutes, but only challenged goalkeeper Eleias Himaras twice. Instead, Forge's attackers hesitated to shoot on a couple of occasions and let Pacific off the hook.

At last, the dam burst, a couple of minutes before halftime. Pacific right-back Sami Keshavarz turned a pass back toward his own goal, straight to Forge midfielder Noah Jensen at the top of the box. Jensen, in space with nobody challenging him, threaded a powerful low strike into the bottom left corner for his second goal of the year.

Forge began the second half much like they'd ended the first, doubling their lead within five minutes. This time, it was Lucas Cavallini from the penalty spot.

Pacific defender Joshua Belluz swung his foot through Hoce Massunda's in the box after Massunda put the ball out of play, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Cavallini made no mistake this time, atoning for his missed penalty in Vancouver two weeks ago by confidently smashing a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner.

The Tridents thought they had found a lifeline with 20 minutes to play, when a strong header from Belluz finished a well-worked set-piece. Pacific's celebrations were short-lived, though; an FVS review showed that Diego Konincks — who had headed the initial free kick ball across to Belluz — was offside, and the goal came off the board.

Perhaps emboldened by the near-goal, Pacific continued searching for a breakthrough in the final stages of the match, but Forge did enough to keep them out.

In fact, Forge sealed their win with one last goal in stoppage time. Anthony Aromatario found Ben Paton behind the defensive line with a long ball forward, and Paton did the rest himself, cutting to the middle of the box and hammering a shot into the net to make it 3-0.

In the end, the Hamilton side walked away with three critical points. They did exactly what they needed to in order to give themselves a chance in the Shield race, and they'll go into the weekend knowing they could even take the lead if things go their way on Monday.

"We're in a good position mentally," Forge's Jensen told reporters postmatch. "We have a lot to play for, but we understand that us playing our best football is going to put us in the best position to win anything."

Forge and Cavalry both play on Thanksgiving Monday and have two regular season matches after that. The Cavs' lead is currently just two points, so they're not quite as secure in their position as they seemed two weeks ago.

The 2024 and 2025 Shield winners Forge don't have full control of their campaign for a third, but they remain serious contenders. In fact, they're still contending for three trophies, with the two pieces of CPL silverware as well as the Canadian Championship final coming up in a couple of weeks.

Head coach Bobby Smyrniotis explained, though, that the priority is ensuring they're playing their best football regardless of competition.

"Don't look at trophies, this or that, you've got to focus on the games, and we've got to focus on being the best version of ourselves," he said.

Pacific, meanwhile, now head into their final three games of the year — two of them at home, at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria.

While their head coach Terry Dunfield rued some individual errors that hurt them on Wednesday night, he maintained a positive attitude and called for a response from his team.

"There was some nice football in there, but to come here and pick up points, you need to have a really good day," Dunfield said postmatch.

He added: "I [want to see] a reaction from these last two games. I don't know where it's come from where we've started to concede some of these goals from individual errors — that's not us, that can't be us — but I'm excited to experience RAP for the first time, see the guys play on grass, and connect with the community in Victoria."

Box Score

Starting XIs

Forge FC: Bontis; Rama, Nimick, James, Jevremović; Jensen (Paton 83'), Batisse (Krutzen 90+4'), Aromatario; Bourgeois (Ampomah 76'), Cavallini (Sadek 76'), Massunda (Oketokoun 76')

Pacific FC: Himaras; Keshavarz, Belluz, Konincks, Greco-Taylor; Browning-Lagerfeldt (Juhmi 46'), Gomulka; Bustos (Schiavoni 60'), Daniels (Vales 46'), Kratt; Díaz

Goals

43' - Noah Jensen (Forge FC)
51' - Lucas Cavallini (Forge FC) (Penalty)
90+3' - Ben Paton (Forge FC)

Discipline

65' - Yellow: Roshawn Juhmi (Forge FC)
77' - Yellow: Alejandro Díaz (Pacific FC)
85' - Yellow: Anthony Aromatario (Forge FC)

CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match

Noah Jensen, Forge FC

Jensen, wearing the captain's armband, pulled a lot of strings in Forge's attack from midfield. He got the scoring started himself with a clever interception and finish, and went on to record four shots and four chances created in total. 

What's Next?

Both these clubs will play at home over Thanksgiving weekend, beginning on Sunday evening when Pacific FC host Atlético Ottawa at Victoria's Royal Athletic Park (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT).

On the holiday Monday, Forge FC will host 905 Derby rivals Inter Toronto in their final home match of the regular season (1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT).