Final Score: Forge FC 3-3 York United FC
Goalscorers: Bekker 27′, Campbell 54′, 76′; Santos 48′, Wright 66′, Babouli 70′
Game of the 2023 season: 76
CPL match: 443
Match in a minute or less
Forge FC and York United delivered an outstanding derby encounter at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday night, as both teams took the lead and surrendered it en route to a fascinating 3-3 draw.
Kyle Bekker got the scoring started early with a first-half goal off a gorgeous Tristan Borges cross, but York came out of halftime firing as Kevin Dos Santos curled one from the top of the box to equalize. Terran Campbell put the Hammers back ahead in the 54th minute only for Brian Wright to strike right back with an excellent solo run through the centre-backs and, shortly after, Mo Babouli to capitalize on some defensive miscommunication to put York in front.
However, Forge would have the last laugh, as they won a 76th-minute penalty off a handball in the box. Campbell stepped up and, although his initial attempt was stopped, he was able to bury the rebound and secure an important point for the home side.
Three Observations
Thrilling second half headlined by lead changes, uncharacteristic errors
When asked to describe the second half of this game, Bobby Smyrniotis opted for brevity:
“You ever been to the circus?”
Forge and York United have played some entertaining games against one another over the past five years, but frankly no prior 905 Derby match has ever been as entertaining as this one.
Despite a first half that was sluggish at times, with just 0.77 expected goals in total across the two sides, the second half was an electric, back-and-forth encounter where it felt like either side could score at any moment.
It was not, perhaps, the kind of game Smyrniotis would have been hoping for after heading into halftime leading 1-0, and he was particularly frustrated by the sloppy errors that led to York’s goals. This is the second match in a row that Forge have conceded three goals, and the third time this year.
In fact, this is the first time in Forge’s club history that they’ve allowed three goals in a game thrice in one CPL regular season.
“The goals come in very random moments,” the Forge boss said of Saturday’s second half. “You look at the second goal, we probably made about — I may be exaggerating here — 20 passes or so, moving the ball around, and then Ali [Hojabrpour] uncharacteristically gives it up in the middle and there’s a clear path in the central axis of the field, which should never happen.
“The third goal, just watch the replay.”
The Nine Stripes are in front!!!
The final 905 derby of the season is certainly delivering, as Mo Babouli puts @yorkutdfc in the lead
📺: @onesoccer
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 13, 2023
Forge’s defending was actually excellent and well-organized in the first half, so it’s strange for them to struggle in the second half, but the neutral fan may thank them for it because it delivered a truly exhilarating derby contest.
For Forge’s part on the attacking side, Kyle Bekker put in another outstanding performance with a goal and assist, getting a lot of attacking work done despite a midfield battle that York occasionally got the better of.
Terran Campbell, likewise, was excellent and pulled further ahead in the Golden Boot race to move up to 10 goals. Seven of those have come against York, a stat he confirmed was the impetus for his “rocking the baby” celebration — the meaning of which, Campbell offered, should be self-explanatory.
York show fight to adjust, take control for second-half stretches
A large part of the credit for this game’s outrageously open second half is due to a concerted effort from York United to make it so.
After a first half which their head coach Martin Nash called “lethargic,” they came out of the dressing rooms looking like a different team, wanting to take the game to Forge.
He didn’t need to change personnel; York’s same 11 came out in the second half but they began to seize control of the ball and attempt to get the ball to Clément Bayiha and Kevin Dos Santos on the wings more frequently.
Fullbacks Max Ferrari and Paris Gee were busy as York tried to play those balls forward and over the top, although as the game opened up they increasingly found space through the middle thanks to some excellent passing work from Brem Soumaoro and Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé.
There’s a lot for York to be positive about from the second half; Nash said he was “ecstatic” with the way they handled the latter 45 for the most part. For them to come back from a goal down in the home of the champions is encouraging, as is the fact they were able to score three goals — something they’ve now done in two straight games, although at the expense of three conceded in both, with this week’s result matching last week’s 3-3 at Atlético Ottawa.
“I was looking for more energy, to get in their face a bit more,” Nash said. “They had too much time on the ball in the first half and we had to let the game open up a bit to get back in it. We got back in it, and I was impressed with the fight we had to go back and take the lead, get up 3-2… [but] I think it’s seven games now in this season we’ve given a goal away in the last 10 minutes that’s cost us points, so we’ve got to find a way to grind these results out.”
It’s not quite as grim as Nash suggests — York have conceded a goal to drop points in the last 10 minutes five times this year, plus one in the last 20 at Valour — but nonetheless it’ll be very frustrating for the Nine Stripes that they’ve been able to get into those good positions and not see out wins.
Badibanga dynamic in seamless first Forge start on wing
Beni Badibanga only signed for Forge a few weeks ago, and he made his first ever start for the club on Saturday, but already he seems to have fit seamlessly into the squad and developed an understanding with his fellow attacking players.
The Belgian started the game in, ostensibly, a left-wing position in Forge’s front three, but he seemed to have been given license to roam somewhat, interchanging a few times with Kyle Bekker and dropping into midfield in search of touches.
Badibanga was keen to take on defenders and his skillful footwork at speed and clever running provided a very different attacking dynamic to any other player Forge have in their squad at the moment, and it was clear that the coaching staff trust him enough to give him the freedom to go looking for the ball.
“He’s an intelligent player,” Bobby Smyrniotis said of the winger. “Not only is he technically gifted on the ball, but he really knows how to move in space in the attack and he does a very good job in how he moves in spaces defensively. When you can have a guy like him and Bekker playing close together I think that gives you a different dimension in the game and it gives something for opponents to think about — a little bit more directness, a little bit more of a player to really go at some defenders, and his combination play as well too.
“He’s been in for a couple of weeks, he’s adjusted very well and gotten into it. He comes from a background of football that’s quite similar to what we want to play, which always helps.”
The 27-year-old played for quite a while in Belgium, including around 100 games in the top-flight Jupiler Pro League, which is a level Forge have already indicated in the past they rate highly. So, perhaps it’s no surprise Smyrniotis has taken so quickly to Badibanga.
Overall, Badibanga led his team on Saturday with 85 touches, winning 11 duels and making five out of his six attempted tackles successfully. He was extremely involved, linking up dangerously with Bekker, as the two played 25 passes between each other — the most frequent combination of any two players in the match.
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Terran Campbell, Forge FC
With two goals, Campbell cemented his place atop the Golden Boot race with his ninth and tenth of the season. He also created four chances and worked hard in the press in a strong all-around performance from Forge’s most in-form attacker at the moment.
What’s next?
Forge’s return to the pitch will come next Saturday, Aug. 19 when they host Halifax Wanderers (7 p.m. ET). York will follow them up the following day on Sunday, as they head to ATCO Field for a date with Cavalry FC (3 p.m. MT/5 p.m. ET).
Watch all CPL matches live on OneSoccer. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.