Forge FC, Atlético Ottawa, and Cavalry FC all clinched spots in the 2024 Canadian Premier League playoffs on Saturday night, thanks to Forge’s 3-1 victory over Vancouver FC at Willoughby Community Park.
Forge are the reigning North Star Cup champions, having beat Cavalry in dramatic fashion at Tim Hortons Field in last year’s final. They missed their chance to clinch a playoff spot last weekend, but only needed a win or a draw on Saturday night to book their ticket in the postseason for the sixth year in a row. Bobby Smyrniotis’ side delivered, and they have not only clinched a playoff spot, but a home playoff game by guaranteeing themselves a spot in the top four.
The four-time playoff champions also lead the race for the CPL Shield, awarded to the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season. No team has won both trophies in the same season since the CPL Shield was introduced in 2022, but the league’s most decorated club will look to change that over the coming weeks.
2023 CPL Final: The Film 📽️
Check out our behind-the-scenes documentary with every angle of the CPL Final between @ForgeFCHamilton and @CPLCavalryFC at Tim Hortons Field 🏆
This is a match nobody will forget any time soon ⚽#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/G2KbsfUtTJ
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) November 8, 2023
Atlético Ottawa don’t play until Sunday, but their spot in the postseason was also confirmed as a result of Forge FC winning their match and Halifax Wanderers FC failing to pick up three points against Valour FC earlier on Saturday. The 2022 CPL Shield winners will look to add their first playoff title to the trophy cabinet after being disappointed by missing the playoffs a year ago. Ottawa also hosted the 2022 CPL Final, but were denied the double by Forge FC — and Carlos Gonzalez and co. will be out to avenge that defeat this time around. They also guaranteed themselves a home playoff game and a spot in the top four.
Only one team other than Forge has made the playoffs in all six seasons, and that team is Cavalry FC, who booked their ticket with a trio of results — them beating York United on Friday night, Halifax drawing Valour, and Forge beating Vancouver. Tommy Wheeldon Jr’s Cavs have been incredibly successful over the years, but a playoff trophy has thus far eluded them and they will be keen to finally rewrite that narrative.
Ottawa and Cavalry are both very much alive in the CPL Shield race as well, needing to make up ground on Forge in this final month of the season.
The top five teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the playoffs, which will be contested in the same format as was introduced by the CPL last year. The 2024 CPL Playoffs will kick off on Wednesday, October 23 and run through Saturday, November 9 or Sunday, November 10, depending on which club hosts the 2024 CPL Final.
Find more details on the CPL’s playoff format here.