Forge maintained their position atop the CPL table on Sunday, as they defeated Vancouver FC 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Matteo Schiavoni.

With that, they now sit two points ahead of Atlético Ottawa in first place thanks to their third win in a row, which have all come in a span of less than 10 days.

As for Vancouver, they remain in fifth place in the table despite the loss, although they’ve now won just one of their last seven games after this defeat.

Forge got off to a strong start to this game, as they opened the scoring inside just six minutes. After a turnover at the edge of Vancouver’s box, Jordan Hamilton picked out the run of David Choinière, and he’d do well to take the ball in stride and fire the ball into the top corner to give his team the lead.

They then nearly doubled their lead in the 33rd minute, as Béni Badibanga found Tristan Borges with a nice ball into the box, but Borge’s powerful shot would be nicely caught by Vancouver’s Callum Irving. Then, right after, Choinière almost found his brace, as a Vancouver clearance nearly bounced in the goal off him, but they were spared thanks to a big save from Irving.

At the other end, Gabriel Bitar looked to find an equalizer in the 36th minute, as he fired a shot from a good spot, but he curled his shot right over the goal. Minutes later, Bitar had an even better look off a Forge turnover, unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box, forcing an excellent save out of Forge’s Jassem Koleilat.

Vancouver had a great chance to level the score right before half time, as the ball fell to Vasco Fry at the edge of the box after another Forge turnover, but his shot would be blocked before it reached the goal.

On the other side of the break, Forge came close to finding a second in the 48th minute, as Noah Jensen fired a dangerous strike from the edge of the box, forcing another save out of Irving.

Vancouver almost responded right after that, however, coming closest to an opener. After a great cross from Paris Gee, Alejandro Díaz found Bitar with a headed pass, but Bitar’s shot would be blocked. Then, on the rebound, Vasco Fry fired a dangerous shot, slicing a powerful low shot just past the far post.

At the other end, Forge had a dangerous look off a free kick in the 66th minute, as Badibanga fired a dangerous shot, only finding himself denied by a strong Irving save.

Soon after, though, Vancouver would find their equalizer in the 72nd minute. On the second phase of a corner, Mikaël Cantave won the ball and chipped in a perfect cross, one that Elage Bah rose highest to meet, nodding home from close range to make it 1-1.

Eager to regain their lead, Forge had a glorious opportunity to score in the 78th minute, as the ball fell to Nana Ampomah in a dangerous spot, but his volley attempt sliced just wide of the goal.

Not long after, however, they’d eventually find that goal. After a great ball over the top from Ampomah, he found the run of Matteo Schiavoni in behind Vancouver’s back line, and the youngster made no mistake with his touch and then finish to score his first CPL goal, giving his team a crucial lead in the process.

From there, they wouldn’t relinquish that lead, either, grinding out a crucial victory in the title race.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Vancouver FC: Irving; Gee, Romeo, Enyou, Cameron (Chung 61′); Fry (McDonnell 81′), Rommens, Garcia (Sellouf 55′); Cantave (Fisk 81′), Bitar (Bah 61′), Díaz

Forge FC: Koleilat; Cissé (Duncan 70′), Metusala, Owolabi-Belewu, Parra; Achinioti-Jönsson, Jensen (Hojabrpour 71′); Choinière, Borges (Ampomah 76′), Badibanga (Schiavoni 85′); Hamilton (Campbell 70′) 

Goals

6′ — David Choinière (Forge FC)

72′ — Elage Bah (Vancouver FC)

89′ — Matteo Schiavoni (Forge FC)

Discipline

27′ — Yellow: Daniel Parra (Forge FC)

50′ — Yellow: Allan Enyou (Vancouver FC)

85′ — Yellow: Malik Owolabi-Belewu (Forge FC)

87′ — Yellow: Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC)