Forge FC defeated Vancouver FC for the first time in club history on Friday night at Tim Hortons Field, winning by a 2-0 scoreline to finish the night alone atop the CPL standings.

Forge dominated the ball for the first 10 minutes of the game while they probed for spaces they could attack into, but they suffered an early blow. Kwasi Poku, lined up on the left wing, pulled up after challenging for a ball in the air with what may have been a knee injury, and Bobby Smyrniotis was forced into a very early change as Tristan Borges came in to replace Poku.

Borges made an immediate impact, causing trouble down the left flank and also whipping in a couple of dangerous set-pieces, as Forge searched for the opener. Vancouver, though, did grow into the game themselves, and developed a few good attacks with their vertical balls toward Miki Cantave and Alejandro Díaz.

Thanks to some timely defending at both ends of the pitch, the sides had to go into halftime at 0-0, with just one shot on target apiece.

The second half seemed to begin much as the first did, although Vancouver came alive with some possession early on after Afshin Ghotbi brought Shaan Hundal and Tyler Crawford into the match. Gabriel Bitar, in particular, seemed more aggressive in hunting for channels to play passes, as the visitors countered with more pace.

However, it was Forge’s substitution that would make an impact, as Aboubacar Sissoko — about five minutes after entering for Noah Jensen — collected the ball on the right and ran toward the box himself, watching the space open up before flicking a perfect shot with the outside of his right boot just inside the post for the Hammers’ first ever goal against VFC.

Their second would not take long. Just a couple minutes later, Kyle Bekker found the ball on the left side and flicked a gorgeous pass across goal to where Woobens Pacius — another recent substitute — was on hand to guide it into the net.

The match opened up a bit further from there as VFC chased a way back in, but Forge did well to stifle any attempts in transition and saw out an important three points.

BOX SCORE

Goals

71′ — Aboubacar Sissoko (Forge FC)
73′ — Woobens Pacius (Forge FC)

Discipline

53′ — Yellow: Minjae Kwak (Vancouver FC)
90+1′ — Yellow: Tristan Borges (Forge FC)
90+3′ — Yellow: Nicky Gyimah (Vancouver FC)