Canadian Premier League — Match #92
Forge FC vs. Cavalry FC
October 16, 2019 — (7:00 p.m. ET)
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca
Canadian Premier League’s Finals contestants will lock horns one last time in Fall season play on Wednesday when Cavalry FC visits Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field.
Cavalry sit a point ahead of Forge with a game at hand atop the Fall standings, although both sides have long booked their ticket to Finals 2019, which begin Saturday, Oct. 26.
Wednesday’s tilt will be the second Finals 2019 preview in as many weeks following Cavalry’s 2-1 victory over Forge last Wednesday. Sub-zero temperatures produced peculiar conditions in Calgary, something Dom Malonga found success in, potting a brace and putting the Cavs top of the table.
RELATED READING: THOMPSON: Analyzing Cavalry & Forge’s under-the-radar stars
Forge are coming off back-to-back setbacks for the first time in 2019 after a lopsided 4-0 loss to 905 Derby rival York9 FC over Thanksgiving weekend, creating one of the most shocking results in the CPL’s inaugural season. Coach Bobby Smyrniotis, however, stressed travel and fatigue had caught up to his side, who are set to wrap up their Fall campaign at home Wednesday.
Cavalry FC will close out the Fall season with an Al Classico finale at ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows, hosting FC Edmonton (4:00 p.m. ET, 2:00 p.m. MT/available on OneSoccer and CBC). Forge have the final Fall matchday off and will begin preparations for the first leg of Finals 2019 against Cavalry FC at Tim Hortons Field (3:30 p.m. ET/available on OneSoccer and CBC).
KEYS TO THE MATCH
- Don’t show your hand: If last week’s first Finals 2019 prelude was any indication, Wednesday should be disjointed and unfamiliar – weather aside – to supporters of both teams. Golden boot leader Tristan Borges didn’t travel and Cavalry made zero substitutions en route to a 22-shot performance against a team that had gone over a dozen matches unbeaten. Needless to say, these sides still want to keep some secrets ahead of Oct. 26
- Confidence: Yes, these late-season matches don’t technically mean much for Forge, but two losses in a row ahead of the biggest two games of the year has to be of concern to Bobby Smyrniotis. As mentioned, he chalked up the Y9 defeat to fatigue, which is valid. Wednesday offers a chance to wipe the slate clean – a big win against their Finals 2019 foe, in their backyard, with the same match set to be played just 10 days later.
- Who’s in the hole: Alexander Achinioti Jonsson’s concussion problems sent him to ground Saturday likely ruling him out of Wednesday’s match. Missed by Forge as a towering backline shield, the question turns to who slots in to replace, and how that affects the rest of the lineup. Kwame Awuah and Elimane Cisse can platoon, but that leaves holes at left fullback and advanced midfielder, respectively. Does Forge have the depth, especially heading into the Finals 2019?
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Forge FC: Triston Henry; Dominic Samuel, David Edgar, Daniel Krutzen, Kwame Awuah; Elimane Cisse, David Choinière, Kyle Bekker; Chris Nanco, Anthony Novak, Monti Mohsen
Cavalry FC: Marco Carducci; Malyk Hamilton, Dominick Zator, Mason Trafford, Nathan Mavila; Nik Ledgerwood, Julian Büscher; Jordan Brown, Sergio Camargo, Oliver Minatel; Dominique Malonga
HEAD TO HEAD
May 12 – Forge FC 1-2 Cavalry FC
June 4 – Forge FC 1-1 Cavalry FC (CanChamp)
June 11 – Cavalry FC 2-1 Forge FC (CanChamp)
June 22 – Cavalry FC 0-1 Forge FC
August 25 – Forge FC 1-0 Cavalry FC
October 9 – Cavalry FC 2-1 Forge FC
STATS LEADERS
Tristan Borges – 12 goals (Forge FC)
Dom Malonga – 11 goals (Cavalry FC)
INJURIES
Chris Serban (Cavalry FC) – Out (Knee)
Dean Northover (Cavalry FC) – Out (ACL)
Jonathan Wheeldon (Cavalry FC) – Doubtful
Kadell Thomas (Forge FC) – Out
Jonathan Grant (Forge FC) – Questionable
Alexander Achinioti Jonsson (Forge FC) – Doubtful
INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Aribim Pepple (Cavalry FC) – Canada U-17
SUSPENSIONS
None.
ACCUMULATION
(Players are suspended for one match 14 days after accumulating a 4th Yellow Card)
Bertrand Owundi Eko’o (Forge FC) – 4 (will miss Oct. 26 vs. Cavalry)
Julian Büscher (Cavalry FC) – 4 – (will miss Oct. 19 vs. Edmonton)
Nathan Mavila (Cavalry FC) – 3
Marcel Zajac (Forge FC) – 3
Anthony Novak (Forge FC) – 3
REFEREES
Referee: Juan Marquez
ARs: Sean Hornsby & Melissa Snedden
4th Official: David Barrie