RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC vs. Vancouver FC | Oct. 4, 2025

Forge FC hit a snag in their CPL Shield campaign on Saturday at Hamilton Stadium, as they conceded at home for the first time in a league match since July, and drew 1-1 with Vancouver FC.

There were a handful of surprises in the starting XIs, as both managers had to adjust due to a variety of suspensions and injuries. Forge boss Bobby Smyrniotis, missing stalwart Alessandro Hojabrpour due to yellow card accumulation, deployed Ben Paton at the base of midfield between Tristan Borges and Noah Jensen. Vancouver's interim head coach Martin Nash, meanwhile, made eight changes to the side that played in Wednesday's Canadian Championship final. Aidan O'Connor (suspended), Nicolas Mezquida and Vasco Fry all missed out entirely, while Hugo Mbongue, Terran Campbell, Thierno Bah and Paris Gee were among the notable names dropped to the bench.

Instead, Nash gave starts to teenagers Emrick Fotsing and Kevin Podgorni, plus other squad players like Ndiaye Pathé and Thomas Powell.

As expected, Forge had a heavy advantage in possession, and suffocated Vancouver for most of the first half — though the visitors caused some concern a couple of times in quick transitions.

The hosts threw a number of attempts into Vancouver's penalty area, particularly from the right side of the pitch where Borges and David Choinière combined repeatedly. VFC defended well, however, and goalkeeper Callum Irving made one outstanding fingertip stop to push a well-placed Mo Babouli free kick over the bar.

Finally, though — just moments before halftime — Vancouver's defence broke. At the end of a sequence where it looked as though VFC had staved off Forge's attack once again, Tristan Borges capitalized on a loose ball. An attempted clearance landed right at his feet at the top of the box, and despite a heavy touch he got to the ball again quick enough to launch a left-footed strike into the top left corner of the goal.

The second half saw Vancouver come out of their shell a bit more, looking to get on the ball and threaten more for an equalizer. They had 70 per cent possession in the 30 minutes after the break, out-shooting Forge four to one, and in the 72nd minute their improvements paid off.

Thierno Bah, having entered the game just a few minutes prior, played a ball in from the left flank to Thomas Powell, who fed an incisive pass forward to Emrick Fotsing. The 18-year-old midfielder coolly finished low to score his fourth of the season and tie the game at 1-1.

Vancouver held firm, though, and nearly found a winner of their own when Zach Verhoven launched a long, quick counter from deep inside their own half.

Perhaps woken up by the equalizer, Forge became far more aggressive in the later stages of the match, desperate to win the game and keep hold of their own destiny in the Shield race. Kyle Bekker came close with five minutes to play, wrapping his foot around one on the volley but smashing the shot off the crossbar.

Neither side would find the net again, however, and for the first time since June 29, Forge dropped points in a home CPL match as Vancouver are now unbeaten in three straight league games.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Forge FC: Koleilat; Rama (Owolabi-Belewu 78'), Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremović; Borges (H. Paton 66'), B. Paton (Koné 78'), Jensen (Bekker 66'); Choinière (Cissé 66'), Babouli, Massunda

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke, Campagna, Enyou, Crawford (Gee 76'); Powell (Verhoven 76'), Ouattara, Norman Jr. (Da Silva 68'), Fotsing, Podgorni (Bah 68'); Pathé (Campbell 76')

Goals

45' — Tristan Borges (Forge FC)
72' — Emrick Fotsing (Vancouver FC)

Discipline

43' — Yellow: David Norman Jr. (Vancouver FC)
52' — Yellow: Tyler Crawford (Vancouver FC)
60' — Yellow: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
77' — Yellow: Abdoulaye Ouattara (Vancouver FC)
89' — Yellow: Amadou Koné (Forge FC)