RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Vancouver FC vs. Forge FC | August 22, 2025

Forge have extended their record-setting unbeaten run to start the 2025 Canadian Premier League season to 20 matches, as they defeated Vancouver FC 1-0 at Willoughby Community Park on Friday.

They were made to work for this victory, as Vancouver offered stiff resistance as they chased what would've been a pivotal win for them in front of their home crowd, but in the end, Forge did what they needed to pick up their sixth consecutive victory, sealing it thanks to a crucial first-half Mo Babouli goal.

Tristan Borges nearly got the visitors on the board inside two minutes, as he cut inside from the right and fired a shot with his preferred left foot, but Callum Irving did well to get in front of the shot, making an easy catch. Then, in the fifth minute, Borges tried a shot from a similar position with his right foot, and while his attempt did well to test Irving a bit more than the other shot, Irving still did well to dive to his right and catch the shot without spilling it.

Meanwhile, Vancouver had their first good look at goal in the 22nd minute, as Nicolás Mezquida decided to have a shot from distance, and he nearly fooled Forge's Jassem Koleilat with a knuckling effort, which forced an uncomfortable save out of the Forge goalkeeper.

Nearly immediately after, Forge had another dangerous attempt, this time through Hoce Massunda, but the young winger slashed his shot just wide after opening space for himself through a dangerous dribble attempt.

Eventually, though, Forge found their breakthrough at a good moment, as they opened the scoring right before half time. It came from a nice delivery from Massunda, too, as he found a wide-open Mo Babouli at the back post with a looping cross, and Babouli did the rest by guiding the ball into the bottom corner with a perfect header to make it 1-0.

On the other side of the break, Vancouver had a good look at goal from a dangerous free kick, but Vasco Fry was unable to keep his curled attempt below the crossbar, sending his shot just over the net. Then, Vancouver had an even better chance in the 58th minute, as Kunle Dada-Luke whipped in a perfect cross for a wide-open Terran Campbell, but Campbell sent his shot well over the goal, denying him a goal against his former team.

At the other end of the pitch, Forge nearly made it 2-0 right after that, as Brian Wright snuck behind Vancouver's defence to get on the end of a hopeful long ball from Kyle Bekker, but his low shot would be kicked out by Irving. Moments later, Borges had a good chance off a header, doing well to meet a good cross from Bekker, but his header sailed just over the net.

Continuing a busy flurry of chances from both teams, Vancouver came close to tying the game off another header, with Dada-Luke playing provider once again, but Mezquida was also unable to keep his attempt on target. After that, Mezquida had another look in the 70th minute, this time with his right foot, sending a low attempt just wide of the near post after a nice turn in the box.

Following that wave of Vancouver chances, Forge came close to making it 2-0 in the 72nd minute, as Marko Jevremović curled a dangerous free kick just wide of the post, coming inches away from scoring a fantastic goal.

From there, Forge thought they'd sealed the game in the 88th minute, as Amadou Koné turned in a perfect cross from Ben Paton, but his goal would be ruled off due to the offside flag, keeping the game at 1-0.

Forge almost came to rue that missed opportunity in the third minute of stoppage time, too, as Vancouver's Thierno Bah found Fry with a nice cross, nearly leading to an acrobatic goal from the midfielder, who had an audacious shot attempt deflect just wide of the goal.

In the end, though, that'd be all that Vancouver could muster up in their late push for an equalizer, as Forge held on for the victory.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke, Campagna, Norman Jr. Enyou (Gee 84'); Fry, Cavalcante (Powell 90'); Campbell (Fotsing 69'), Mezquida, Bah; Mbongue (Ndiaye 69')

Forge FC: Koleilat; Rama, Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremović; Hojabrpour, Bekker (Jensen 69'); Massunda (Koné 78'), Borges (Choinière 69'), Babouli (Paton 78'); Wright (Cissé 69')

Goals

45+1' -- Mo Babouli (Forge FC)

Discipline

42' -- Yellow: Thierno Bah (Vancouver FC)

56' -- Yellow: Brian Wright (Forge FC)

87' -- Yellow: Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC)