RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC 1-0 Cavalry FC (April 5, 2025)

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CanPL

A 10-man Forge FC held on to pick up a 1-0 win over Cavalry FC at Hamilton Stadium on Saturday as the 2025 regular season winners got the better of last year's North Star Cup champions to secure all three points on opening week.

The two combatants from the 2024 Canadian Premier League final, now locked in this season-opening rematch, didn't let off even one bit when it came to the sort of fiery football we've come to expect from this rivalry, with both sides trading early jabs and looks at goal in their hunt for an opening effort.

Almost predictably, it was Cavalry FC striker Tobias Warschewski who got the first great look at goal of the match, getting on the end of a cross for an unmarked header, which Jassem Koleilat heroically saved off the line in the 27th minute. Brian Wright also had a sniff at Marco Carducci's goal moments later, but his shot hit the side netting.

So, 45 minutes and change of opening half football could hardly separate these two title contenders, with the state line shared in a near 50-50 split in almost every category, and the crowd at Hamilton Stadium turned their attention to the second half in the hope of seeing a match winner – or, at least, avoiding a goal conceded without answer.

Though both teams stayed in the referee's good books in the first half, it would take just three minutes into the second before the first yellow card was brandished as young Zayne Bruno hit Jay Herdman with a crunching tackle.

Ten minutes later, and the advantage was found, as Marko Jevremović sent in an inch-perfect cross for Mo Babouli, whose glancing header sailed right past the fingertips of an outstretched Carducci to give Forge FC a 1-0 lead over Cavalry FC.

Forge's confidence took a hit in the 72nd minute as Bruno picked up a second yellow for bowling over Sergio Camargo on a challenge for an air ball and was ejected from the match, giving Cavalry FC a man advantage for the final stanza of this back-and-forth battle. Yet, ironically, it was a Forge player who came closest to undoing their 1-0 lead as substitute Ben Paton failed to clear a cross and tested his 'keeper into making a huge save to prevent an own goal in the 87th minute.

Try as Cavalry might to find an equalizer, Forge's backline held firm for the 1-0 win, even surviving a late flurry as Koleilat stood on his head and preserved his clean sheet in dramatic fashion.

And so, head coaches Bobby Smyrniotis and Tommy Wheeldon Jr. co-signed the latest chapter in this historic Canadian soccer rivalry with an all-too-familiar customary handshake – Bobby getting the last laugh on this day... but just for now.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Forge FC: Koleilat; Bruno, Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremovic; Hojabrpour, Bekker, Jensen (Paton, 81'); Choinière (Ampomah, 81'), Wright (Filion, 81'), Babouli (Kane, 81')

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Montgomery, Field, Kamdem (Gherasimencov, 77'); Shome (Elva, 77'), Myroniuk (Baldisimo, 65'); Musse, Camargo, Herdman (Wahling, 65'); Warschewski

Goals

58' -- Mo Babouli (Forge FC)

Discipline

48' -- Yellow: Zayne Bruno (Forge FC)
53' -- Yellow: Bradley Kamdem (Cavalry FC)
72' -- 2nd Yellow (Red): Zayne Bruno (Forge FC)
90' -- Yellow: Nana Ampomah (Forge FC)