Canadian Premier League — Match #58
Valour FC vs. Forge FC
August 17, 2019 — IG Field (6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT)
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca
After spending the last three weeks wrapped up with their CONCACAF League campaign, Forge FC will finally return to CPL action this weekend as they’ll be in Manitoba to play Valour FC for the fourth time.
These two sides have produced fireworks when they’ve met in the past, with one particular match in mid-June comprising of a Marco Bustos screamer in the first minute and a dramatic stoppage-time comeback by Forge to clinch their CONCACAF League spot and keep their Spring title hopes alive.
The home side here will be eager to get back out on the pitch, with Valour securing their first win of the Fall competition last weekend in a resilient 2-0 road win over York9 FC. Those three points took them out of the cellar of the league table, with Valour’s total now at six thanks to three additional draws.
Forge hasn’t been seen in the CPL in a while, but last time they played it was to a 1-1 draw with their emerging bogey team, FC Edmonton. Since then, they beat Guatemalan side Antigua GFC 2-1 on aggregate to advance to the second round of the CONCACAF League. The Hamilton-based club is third in the Fall standings, with a 3-1-1 record and 10 points.
Up next for Forge is Thursday’s home CONCACAF clash against Honduran club Olimpia, followed by a home match with Cavalry FC on Sunday, August 25 (3:30 p.m. ET, on OneSoccer). Valour will play again in a very short span, with a game scheduled for Monday, August 19 against FC Edmonton at IG Field (8:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CT, on OneSoccer).
KEYS TO THE MATCH
- Something to build on: Valour’s win at York9 last weekend sent a message to the league that they’re not to be counted out. Coach Rob Gale lamented the criticism of his side during their up-and-down start to the Fall season, pleased to see a result finally go Valour’s way (and against one of the hottest teams in the CPL, too). Now, the pressure is on for the Winnipeg club to continue building, especially with new faces in the lineup with Michele Paolucci and Jose Galan.
- Back to reality: It’s been a very interesting few weeks for Forge, with their trip to Guatemala still fresh in the memory. It may, then, be a challenge for them to refocus for a CPL match on the road. They can’t afford to stumble because the margins in this Fall competition are paper-thin; Forge has serious aspirations of appearing in the CPL Championship, so they need every single point they can get.
- New blood: Both of Michele Paolucci’s goals for Valour have come in the first ten minutes of games, as he’s begun to demonstrate his tenacious nose for the net. He and Jose Galan have injected a lot of life into this Valour side, so they’re the players that the squad will likely lean heavily on in Saturday’s match. Even Michael Petrasso, who missed a while with injury, feels like a new presence at the moment; Valour’s attack has never looked so threatening than it has with all these new dynamic players.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Valour FC: Mathias Janssens; Martin Arguinarena, Adam Mitter, Yohan Le Bourhis, Diego Gutierrez; Jose Galan, Louis Béland-Goyette; Michael Petrasso, Dylan Carreiro, Marco Bustos; Michele Paolucci
Forge FC: Triston Henry; Kwame Awuah, Bertrand Owundi, David Edgar, Giuliano Frano; Daniel Krutzen, Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson, Elimane Cisse; Tristan Borges, Jace Kotsopoulos, Chris Nanco
HEAD TO HEAD
May 16 – Valour FC 0-2 Forge FC
June 15 – Forge FC 2-1 Valour FC
July 20 – Forge FC 3-1 Valour FC
STATS LEADERS
Tyler Attardo – 3 goals (Valour FC)
Tristan Borges – 7 goals (Forge FC)
INJURIES
Josip Golubar (Valour FC) – Out (ACL)
Ali Musse (Valour FC) – Out
Tyson Farago (Valour FC) – Out
INTERNATIONAL DUTY
None
SUSPENSIONS
Kadell Thomas (Forge FC)
ACCUMULATION
(Players are suspended for one match 14 days after accumulating a 4th Yellow Card)
Skylar Thomas (Valour FC) – 3
Diego Gutierrez (Valour FC) – 3
REFEREES
Referee: Fabrizio Stasolla
Assistants: Lyes Arfa & Chantal Boudreau
4th Official: Marko Kalic