Full report on Sunday’s game
They played at Tim Hortons Field
Canadian Premier
League
Forge FC 1-1 Value:
Former Hammer goes after Old Forge Football Club
ON JULY 16, 2023
A wet and rainy Hamilton night played host to a 1-1 draw between Forge and Valor, with the happier guests of the two.
After a resounding 4-0 thrashing of York United last weekend, Forge made three changes to the starting XI – two were forced, as Manjrekar James was suspended while Jordan Hamilton was injured. While Garven Metusala made his return to the team after his time with Haiti in the Gold Cup.
As for Valor, he is coming off a 2-0 loss to Atlético Ottawa in the capital last Sunday. However, manager Phil Dos Sandos made just one change to the starting eleven, with former Forge striker Anthony Novak making way for Jared Ulloa.
It was a slow opening 15 minutes as there was little to do from an attacking point of view. Forge started the most dominant. His first great chance came in the 17th minute from a corner. Tristan Borges fired a cross, which met Noah Jensen’s head. Unfortunately for the midfielder, he nodded just off Rayane Yesli’s post.
Jensen would have another chance moments later. Cutting inside the box, Jensen’s shot forced Yesli to make a save.
In the first half, the hosts had nine shots to Valor’s three, but only one would be on target for each side. Captain Diego Gutierrez’s free kick went straight to Triston Henry for the visitors.
Forge captain Kyle Bekker responded minutes before halftime with a shot from distance. However, Yesli was well positioned to make the save, seeing him all the way.
Kwasi Poku had Forge’s last chance of the half. A deflected cross came to the youngster, whose header went just over the crossbar.
There was a moment of controversy ten minutes into the second half. Bekker hit the post from a tight angle, with the ball going to Borges. The winger passed the ball to Terran Campbell, who converted. However, the assistant referee signaled offside. From the replay, Campbell appeared in the game, and despite a lengthy argument between the referee and his assistant, the call was upheld.
Campbell would not refuse, however, and finally found the goal 10 minutes later. David Choiniere played a long ball that fooled Valor defender Klaidi Cela. Campbell, alert to the situation, dodged around Cela, then flicked the ball past Yesli.
Despite having the upper hand, Forge continued to look like the more threatening team. Borges had a shot saved by Yesli after some decent setup. That was one of the ten shots taken by the locals in the second half.
With five minutes to go, Valor equalized. Kian Williams played in a corner that Cela found. The former Hammer beat Henry with his shot, leveling his side.
The hosts had one more chance at death. Bekker curled up on a dangerous free kick that met Jensen’s head. However, he once again failed to find the target despite not being marked.
The 1-1 draw saw Forge drop to third thanks to Cavalry’s late winner against HFX Wanderers earlier in the day. The Hammers will travel to British Columbia for next Friday’s tournament with league leaders Pacific.
As for Valor, they remain seventh after the game with 16 points. They host York United next Saturday as they look to return to the CPL playoffs.
Let’s also hope that Forge FC
Return to the leaderboard as the first.
Next game of Forge fc July 28 at 7.00 pm.
At Tim Hortons Field
