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HIGHLIGHTS: Easton Ongaro strike sees FC Edmonton beat Forge FC 1-0 in final game of the season

FC Edmonton ended their season on a high on Saturday, beating Forge FC 1-0 at Clarke Stadium in their final game of the 2021 campaign on a goal from Easton Ongaro.

Bobby Smyrniotis made five changes to his Forge side, including bringing in Baj Maan for Tristan Henry — a rare start in goal for the youngster — and handing Sebastian Castello a first CPL start. Alan Koch also started a young goalkeeper, with Darlington Murasiranwa getting the nod between the sticks.

Neither side were really able to challenge the other’s goalkeeper in the opening 45 minutes. There was only one shot on goal between them in the first half — a 10th minute shot from Edmonton’s Tobias Warschewski that was saved by Baj Maan. Forge led the shot count, however, as Tristan Borges, Klaidi Cela, Paolo Sabak and Garven Metusala all fired shots off target.

The Eddies thought they deserved a penalty at the end of the half, as Easton Ongaro was brought down in the box, but the referee waved away the protests, and it remained 0-0 going into the second period of play.

After another 30 minutes of scoreless football, where the majority of the shots were taken from long range and rarely hitting the target, Easton Ongaro finally scored the match’s opening goal in the 77th minute.

The FC Edmonton striker took a touch on a pass on the ground from Hunter Gorskie, before outmuscling Klaidi Cela. Creating some space for himself, Ongaro took another touch and fired his shot into the bottom left corner to give his side a 1-0 lead.

The home side kept pushing for a second goal, and nearly found it as Tobias Warschewski headed a late effort wide of the goal from close range, but another goal would never come.

With the win, FC Edmonton jumped over Atletico Ottawa and into seventh place in the table. They finish the season on 28 points from 28 matches, two more than Ottawa had in 2021.

Forge turn their attention to the final game of the 2021 CPL regular season, a home game against Cavalry FC on Tuesday, before the playoffs begin next weekend.

BOX SCORE

Goals

77′ — Easton Ongaro (FC Edmonton)

Discipline

43′ — Yellow: Joshua Navarro (Forge FC)

61′ — Yellow: Hunter Gorskie (FC Edmonton)

75′ — Yellow: Mélé Temguia (FC Edmonton)