PREVIEW: FC Edmonton vs. Forge FC – Match #50

2019-07-26

Charlie O’Connor-Clarke, Digital Content Editor (@charliejclarke)

Canadian Premier League — Match #36
FC Edmonton vs. Forge FC
July 27, 2019 — Clarke Field (4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET)
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

Saturday’s slate of CPL games ends with two teams who are all too familiar with one another by now. FC Edmonton is back at Clarke Field to host Forge FC for the third meeting between the sides in just over a month.

Forge sits on top of the CPL’s Fall season standings with three wins and a loss (which came earlier this month at home to the Eddies). Last weekend, they ran Valour FC off the pitch, beating them 3-1 at Tim Hortons Field for their third straight triumph, adding to their league-leading goal total. FCE has had their number the last couple times they’ve met, though, with the Eddies taking two straight contests against Forge.

Things aren’t quite so rosy for FC Edmonton, who sit fourth with a win, a draw, and a loss in Fall competition. Their last outing was a water-logged 0-0 draw against Valour FC, which was marked by a couple of false starts due to weather delays. Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate this time around as FCE seek their first home win of the Fall.

The Eddies will next play game three of a four-game homestand on Wednesday, July 31 as they host HFX Wanderers FC (9:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. MT, on OneSoccer). Forge, on the other hand, will turn their attention to a completely new competition, as they enter the CONCACAF League. They’ll host Guatemalan side Antigua GFC on Thursday, August 1 to open their two-legged tie (6:00 p.m. ET, on OneSoccer).

KEYS TO THE MATCH

Volume shooting: In the Fall season, Forge has averaged 17 shots per game, the majority of them on target every time. What killed them against the Eddies, though, was that they couldn’t put more than one of their many chances in the net. Recently, their attack has been clicking like no other in the CPL, especially with Tristan Borges scoring three in the last three games. FC Edmonton’s backline needs to be on their toes against such a potent offence.
Make Clarke a fortress: The Eddies have been decent enough at Clarke Field (2-2-2 in CPL action). However, they haven’t quite been able to capitalize on home field as much as they might like. In last weekend’s weather-delayed draw, being at home wasn’t much of an advantage at all, as they struggled to get their attack clicking (although Valour did as well). They’ve held three straight clean sheets at Clarke, though. Conditions should be better this weekend, so this could be an opportunity for FCE to grow into a dominant home side.
Set pieces: As dangerous as they are at pace in open play, Forge has shown an ability to be just as lethal from dead-ball situations. Think back to their 2-0 win over HFX Wanderers not long ago, in which both Tristan Borges and Kyle Bekker scored directly from set-pieces. They’ve got multiple different players who can curl perfect balls into the box, both from the corner and from further up the pitch. The Eddies need to be careful not to give away fouls in dangerous areas, because this is an opponent who can make them pay for it.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

FC Edmonton: Connor James; Allan Zebie, Mele Temguia, Amer Didic, Jeannot Esua; James Marcelin, Ramon Soria; Bruno Zebie, Oumar Diouck, Marcus Velado-Tsegaye; Tomi Ameobi

Forge FC: Triston Henry; Kwame Awuah, Dominic Samuel, Daniel Krutzen, Jonathan Grant; Kyle Bekker, Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson, Elimane Cisse; Kadell Thomas, Emery Welshman, Tristan Borges

HEAD TO HEAD

May 29 – Forge FC 2-0 FC Edmonton
June 26 – FC Edmonton 1-0 Forge FC
July 6 – Forge FC 1-2 FC Edmonton

STATS LEADERS

Tristan Borges – 7 goals (Forge FC)
Oumar Diouck – 4 goals (FC Edmonton)

INJURIES

Anthony Novak (Forge FC) – Doubtful
Randy Edwini-Bonsu (FC Edmonton) – Doubtful
Amer Didic (FC Edmonton) – Questionable

INTERNATIONAL DUTY

None

SUSPENSIONS

None

ACCUMULATION
(Players are suspended for one match 14 days after accumulating a 4th Yellow Card)

Kadell Thomas (Forge FC) – 4 (will miss Aug. 17 vs. Valour FC)

REFEREES

Referee: Filip Dujik
Assistants: Daniel Boudreau & Peter Manastyrsky
4th Official: Giancarlo Pavone

FANTASY PREDICTOR
Download the Centre Circle app to play predictor ahead of each match.

Q. Which team will have more shots off target?

A: Currently Forge FC leads the league in chances missed during the Fall Competition with 10 while Edmonton only has one. Look for more dynamic attacks to have more shots off target purely based on the fact that they tend to create more chances.

Q. Which team will have more tackles?

A: At this point in the Fall Competition, HFX is averaging 15.8 tackles per match, the most in the league. Forge and Cavalry also both average more tackles than their opponents for this weekend’s matches.

Q. Will a player score their 1st goal for their club?

A: Valour will be looking for their new striker signing Michele Paolucci to make an immediate impact in what could be his first appearance for the club. Do you believe that he can become acclimated to the Valour team that quickly?