Article content

By Neil Davidson

Familiar foes face off Sunday in the Canadian Premier League playoffs.

No. 1 Forge FC and No. 2 Cavalry FC face off in the qualifying semifinals at Tim Hortons Field, with the winner advancing directly to the championship game on Nov. 9. The loser advances to the Nov. 2 semifinal against No. 3 Atletico Ottawa or No. 4 York United FC, who meet in the quarterfinals at TD Place Stadium on Sunday.

York opened the playoffs on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over No. 5 Pacific FC in a play-off match at York Lions Stadium.

Article content

Although the CPL schedule is short, Cavalry and Forge have a long history together.

Cavalry finished atop the regular season standings in 2019, the league’s inaugural campaign, and in 2023, but lost to Forge in the championship games on both occasions. The 2-1 defeat in 2023 came after extra time.

The Calgary team finished second in the league in 2021, losing 2–1 after overtime to eventual champion Pacific FC in the semifinals. Cavalry lost 3-2 to Forge in the 2022 home-and-away semi-final.

Hamilton’s Forge has been the CPL’s gold standard from day one, evidenced by the fact that it is seeking a fifth title – and third in a row – in its sixth playoff appearance.

“Big games usually bring out the best in us,” Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis said.

Article content

Article content

Forge won the title in 2019, ’20, ’22 and ’23 and finished second in 2021.

“It’s best against best, right,” Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said of the game against Forge. “We are the second seed and playing the best team in the league. We have to be at our best. We look forward to taking on this challenge.

Wheeldon pointed out that his team won at Ottawa and York this season while leading the league. The Cavalry also won 1–0 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Canadian Championship, only to lose the two-legged quarter-final on the away goals rule.

“The last dragon to slay is Forge,” he said.

The Cavalry came at their expense, winning only three of their first 15 matches (3-3-9). But he won his next five outings and ended the season with a series of six games without defeat (4-0-2).

Article content

Cavalry (12-4-12) finished two points behind Forge (15-8-5) in the regular season.

Forge held a 2-1-1 lead in the regular season series this year, winning 2-1 twice at Tim Hortons Field with a 1-0 loss and a 1-1 tie at ATCO Field.

The Cavalry enters the game with a career playoff record of 2-7-1. He lost his previous two away games in the playoffs. Forge is 10-1-2 in the playoffs, including 6-1-0 at home.

Forge set a franchise mark with an 11-1-2 record this season at Tim Hortons Field. The only loss was a 2-0 loss to Atletico Ottawa on October 12, after Forge had already clinched the title.

The loss ended a 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1) for Forge.

York United FC (11-11-6) at Atlético Ottawa (11-6-11)

Ottawa coach Carlos Gonzalez added some spice to the rivalry with York when, on October 6, after his team’s third straight loss to York, he was asked if he wanted to avoid the Toronto team in the playoffs.

Article content

“Not at all. No,” replied the Spaniard. “I think York is probably the weakest team in the playoffs… They don’t have as many tools.”

York coach Benjamin Mora responded by pointing out that his team had outscored Ottawa 7-2 in its three wins against rival Ontario.

“Imagine if we weren’t weak?” » » asked the Mexican.

“Ottawa is an excellent team. They have great players,” he added. “Maybe their weak side is elsewhere.”

Ottawa beat York 2-1 in its season opener in April before losing 2-1, 4-1 and 1-0 in the next three meetings.

After the 1-0 loss to York on October 6, Ottawa beat Forge 2-0 and tied Vancouver FC 0-0. York lost 2–1 to Pacific and Halifax Wanderers before eliminating Pacific in the fourth versus fifth play-in match.

Heading into Sunday’s game, Gonzalez downplayed his past comments about York, calling them “part of the sauce that the media likes.”

“It’s good to build on a rivalry between York and Ottawa,” he said. “But I won’t say anything more, I totally respect their side, I think they’ve done good things, that’s why they’re here.”

—

Follow NeilMDavidson on the X platform

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 26, 2024.

Article content