Forge FC will be in the nation’s capital on Sunday, competing in their fourth consecutive Canadian Premier League Final. The Final comes against their fourth different opponent as well, this time the high-flying hosts Atlético Ottawa, they are looking to lift the North Star Shield for the third time, having won the first two CPL Finals before losing at home to Pacific FC in 2021.
Arguably the deepest team in the Canadian Premier League — with some players on their bench that many clubs would likely start, especially in attack — Forge have plenty of difference-makers in their squad, many of whom have been at the club for a few years now as they continue to build a dynasty in Hamilton.
Here are three players, in particular, to keep an eye on in Sunday’s match.
RELATED: MATCH PREVIEW: Atlético Ottawa vs. Forge FC — 2022 CPL Final
Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson
Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson is a midfielder by trade, but after a long-term injury to centre-back Daniel Krutzen he was forced to play in the backline this season and has seamlessly transitioned to his new role. He led the league in completed passes by a significant margin, and also finished near the top in other defensive statistics including 153 recoveries (9th in the CPL) and 135 duels won (11th).
Achinioti-Jönsson’s 2022 season was recognized with nominations for three of the league’s end-of-season awards, with the Swede in contention for the Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Defender of the Year honours (the latter of which he won). He also became one of a short list of players to make 100 appearances in a CPL kit — currently the only international player to reach that milestone.
Not only has he been arguably the best defender in the CPL this season, but there’s also a case for him being the most consistent player in the league, as he’s been since joining Forge in 2019. He played in all but one match in the regular season, playing the full 90 minutes in each of those matches, despite dealing with a fractured hand toward the tail end of the season.
He also has experience scoring in Canadian Premier League Finals, having headed home the winning goal in the 2020 Final against HFX Wanderers.
Achinioti-Jönsson is a rock at the back, and with Krutzen now returning to the starting lineup for the biggest games of the season as well, watch for that duo to play a big role in trying to shut down Ottawa’s attacking unit.
“Thank you, Canada.” ??
A heartfelt message from @ForgeFCHamilton’s Alex Achinioti-Jönsson after becoming #CanPL’s first international centurion ??? pic.twitter.com/RpA1HS9UaM
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 1, 2022
Tristan Borges
Tristan Borges came into the 2022 Canadian Premier League season with a lot of motivation.
After a difficult time in Belgium with OH Leuven after signing from Forge FC following the inaugural CPL season in 2019 — in which Borges was the best player in the league, and took home the Golden Boot, Player of the Season, and Best U21 Canadian Player of the Year awards — he was back in familiar surroundings and thrived once again in 2022.
He was good on loan in Hamilton from the Belgian club last season as well, but in 2022 has raised his level even further, and has been crucial to his team’s success. He’s been a consistent performer whether asked to play a central attacking midfield role or out wide on the left flank, scoring six goals and adding seven assists for the Hammers.
Borges’ importance may be heightened even further by the absence of Forge’s club captain Kyle Bekker in the Final. Bekker, who was also nominated for the 2019 Player of the Year award before winning the individual honour in 2020, was sent off in the second leg of Forge’s semifinal against Cavalry. Like Achinioti-Jönsson, Borges has scored in a Canadian Premier League Final before, scoring the winning goal in 2019.
Forge have a deep midfield, with Alessandro Hojabrpour, Aboubacar Sissoko and Noah Jensen also among their options in the centre of the pitch, but Bobby Smyrniotis could also drop Borges into midfield and bring in another attacker instead.
Look for Borges to be an attacking threat on Sunday, as well as a player responsible for linking the lines and bringing the entire Forge FC team together in the middle of the park. This final could very well be won or lost by a single moment of quality, and Forge’s number 19 is definitely capable of being that difference-maker.
That’s a hat-trick for @ForgeFCHamilton’s Tristan Borges? #CanPL l ?: @onesoccer
pic.twitter.com/mEOTPMoWUH— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) June 1, 2022
Woobens Pacius
Entering these Canadian Premier League playoffs, Woobens Pacius hadn’t scored in his previous ten appearances. Despite the league’s July Player of the Month looking frustrated at times with a lack of results for his hard work, Bobby Smyrniotis stayed loyal to his young striker, and that faith has been rewarded in the playoffs.
Pacius scored a crucial header seconds after halftime in the first leg of the semifinal against Cavalry, and then in leg number two stepped up with a ton of pressure on him and buried the penalty that would end up being the winning goal.
The 21-year-old also became Forge’s all-time record holder for playoffs goals in the semifinal against Cavalry, scoring in both legs to put him on three goals — he also scored in the 2021 semifinal against York United. His proven capability to stay calm, and even raise his level, in big moments is a fantastic trait for a young player to have, and after scoring 10 goals in the regular season, Pacius is surely on the radars of clubs around the world.
He has also been very successful against Atlético Ottawa during his time in the CPL, scoring four goals against Sunday’s opponents, including a brace at Tim Hortons Field for his first two professional goals last August. Pacius starting Sunday’s match is all but certain, and look for him to threaten the Ottawa backline all night long.
? @ForgeFCHamilton's attack has been clicking since the playoffs started, and a good semifinal series from @WoobensP among others has them in good form entering the final on Sunday
The #CanPL Newsroom team discussed that and more on Monday's live show ➡️ https://t.co/XqNmfUtQ4e pic.twitter.com/Md8VLih9ys
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 25, 2022
The 2022 Canadian Premier League Final will be played Sunday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. ET between Atlético Ottawa and Forge FC, at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa. Tickets are available here, and the match will be broadcast live on OneSoccer, Fubo TV, and Telus Optik TV channel 980.