2024 CPL Regular Season — Match #38
Halifax Wanderers FC vs. Forge FC
June 15, 2024 at 5 p.m. AT/4 p.m. ET
Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Watch Live: OneSoccer // Tickets available here

In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.

On Saturday, defending Canadian Premier League playoff champs Forge FC travel to Halifax, the one CPL city where they did not win in 2023, to play the only team they were winless against last year, the Halifax Wanderers.

They take on a Wanderers team who has thus far struggled to live up to those heights in 2024. Through eight matches played, the Wanderers sit bottom of the CPL table with only three points and are the only team in the league without a win this year.

It has been frustrating times out east this season, but Forge know well enough not to take this matchup lightly.

“You can get fooled and look at the table, and at this point in the year I don’t think the table tells you a lot,” said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. “I’ve been around this league long enough to know how things can change over two to three weeks. On the flip side, you know this is a perfect situation on their end to get out of their situation.”

All of the numbers indicate that Halifax should be in a much better position than they are at this stage in the campaign. They lead the league in expected goals, with 13.57, despite playing one fewer match than every team except Forge — but have scored just six. They are third in touches inside the box with 196, and have held 52.04 per cent of the ball this season.

None of that has translated into points, however, especially at home where they were so dominant in 2023. They are the only team in the league that has a negative goal differential at home this season, as well as the only team who are winless at home.

Forge, meanwhile, have had struggles of their own of late, losing three of their last four matches including a 1-0 humbling against rivals Cavalry this past weekend. They have also now failed to score in three of their four CPL road matches this season.

The two sides were originally scheduled to meet on May 7 in Hamilton during the school day game at Tim Hortons Field, but that had to be rescheduled to make room for Forge’s Canadian Championship first leg against CF Montréal. That match will now be played on Wednesday, August 14 at 7 p.m.

Halifax will get a number of important players back for this match. Key defender Dan Nimick is back after missing last week’s match due to injury. Captain Andre Rampersad and Ryan Telfer return from international duty with Trinidad and Tobago, with the latter scoring a goal and an assist against Grenada in a 2-2 2026 World Cup qualifying draw. Tiago Coimbra, meanwhile, returns from suspension.

On the Forge side of things, Garven Metusala returns from international duty with Haiti. Khadim Kane, however, will not be available as he is suspended following a red card against Cavalry, as well as being away at camp with the Canadian U-20 national team.

Striker Nana Opoku Ampomah is finally in the country and training with Forge FC, but Smyrniotis says he is likely a week or two away before he regains his match fitness. Terran Campbell, meanwhile, has around the same timeline for return as he recovers from injury.

All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Bobby Smyrniotis has an increasingly tough decision to make with Malik Owolabi-Belewu and Garven Metusala: With Garven Metusala returning from international duty, Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis has a difficult lineup decision to make on Saturday, whether to start him or Malik Owolabi-Belewu alongside Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson in the centre of defence. The 21-year-old Owolabi-Belewu was the club’s best player this past weekend against Cavalry, and has been quality this season, winning 15 tackles, and an outstanding 79.01 per cent of his duels contested this year. But take nothing away from Metusala, who has also been strong when called upon and been the preferred option for most of this season. The 24-year-old Haiti international’s ball retention, in particular, has been exemplary this season, with a 92.31 per cent pass accuracy, and has lost possession just 6.2 times per 90, which is the fifth lowest among outfield players this season. For Smyrniotis, however, these are the types of selection headaches he would prefer to have. “It allows us to also have some different looks on the field,” said the Forge coach. “Different centrebacks bring different things for us, it allows us to play in a few different ways. I’d rather have them all ready to go and have that problem as a coach than not having any one of them.”

• Halifax looking to repeat memorable wins over Forge: There’s no question that two of the most significant moments of the Halifax Wanderers’ 2023 campaign came with Forge visiting the Wanderers Grounds. After failing to beat Forge at all in 2022, and just once since their inaugural home match on May 4, 2019, they did so by a score of 2-1 in both home matches against the Hamilton side in 2023. Dan Nimick played hero from the penalty spot in both matches, including one in the tenth minute of stoppage time on June 30, 2023.  Some of that magic would be really helpful for Halifax right now, especially given the significance of those victories, including their win on September 30, 2023 which booked a spot in the playoffs. Currently nine points below the fifth and final CPL playoff spot in 2024, a big victory against Forge would certainly be a strong start to their road back to contention.

• Can Massimo Ferrin haunt Forge again?: One player who Forge will not be particularly keen to be reacquainted with this weekend is Massimo Ferrin. The 25-year-old was dominant against the Hamilton club last season, with three goals in four meetings. He could certainly use a spark in 2024 having gone goalless through eight matches this season. Like his club, however, it isn’t for lack of trying with 19 shots attempted and 1.54 expected goals this season. He scored his first league goal against Forge last season, however, and the Hamilton side have always brought out the best in Halifax and Ferrin — and perhaps this Saturday that will be the case once again. “We’re not looking for Mass to carry the team alone, but I really do think that [against Forge] he feels very confident and looks forward to [playing them], and we need to support him and all the other attackers to make sure we take a big step in the direction we want to go,” said Halifax head coach Patrice Gheisar.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Halifax Wanderers FC: Fillion; Fernandez, Nimick, Dunn, Timoteo; Rampersad, Callegari; Bayiha, Probo, Ferrin; Telfer

Forge FC: Kalongo; Duncan, Achinioti-Jönsson, Owolabi-Belewu, Parra; Hojabrpour, Bekker, Borges; Badibanga, Choinière, Poku

ALL-TIME SERIES

Halifax Wanderers FC wins: 4 || Forge FC wins: 8 || Draws: 8

Last meeting:

Sept 30, 2024— Halifax Wanderers FC 2-1 Forge FC

KEY QUOTES

“We know that when we played Forge [last season] we were full of confidence…so we need to find that confidence to be able to [beat] the team who’s not arguably, has been the best team in the league’s history. So it’s not easy, but those games were memorable nights. And you know, you play this game for these moments, and those moments are the ones that stay with you forever”  — Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar 

“Last year we didn’t get a win there but traditionally we have been very good [in Halifax]. The atmosphere is something we enjoy. I know I enjoy it and the team does and sometimes that energy can be positive for us as well.”  — Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis