Forge have officially booked their spot in the Canadian Premier League playoffs, as they defeated Vancouver FC 3-1 at Willoughby Community Park on Sunday.

Not only that, but they kept their spot atop the CPL table, too, ensuring they’ll remain at least three points ahead of second place by the end of this matchday, a gap that could widen to as big as six points depending on the result of Atlético Ottawa’s match with Pacific FC later this weekend.

As for Vancouver, however, they extended their losing streak to four games, keeping them in sixth place for the time being, just outside of the fifth and final playoff spot.

Both teams had good looks at goal early, as Vancouver’s Gabriel Bitar flashed a dangerous half-volley just wide of the post in the 5th minute, before Forge’s Tristan Borges curled a strike right into the hands of Vancouver goalkeeper, Callum Irving, in the 7th minute.

Alejandro Díaz then had a glorious chance to open the scoring for Vancouver in the 12th minute, as Paris Gee found him with a perfect cross into the box, but despite being unmarked at the back post, Díaz sent his shot too close to Jassem Koleilat in the Forge goal, allowing him to make a comfortable save.

Then, Borges had another strike from distance in the 32nd minute, cutting inside with the ball before firing a low shot at the edge of the box, but his attempt sliced just wide of the goal.

After those near-mises, Forge would open the scoring just minutes later in the 36th minute. After a nice sequence of play between Elimane Cissé and Borges, Borges found David Choinière open in the box with a nice cutback, and Choinière did well to control the pass and finish in one swift move to make it 1-0.

On the other side of half time, Béni Badibanga had a good look at goal in the 48th minute, doing well to cut inside and fire a strike, but his shot would be nicely palmed away by Irving.

Eager to get back into the game with an equalizer, Vancouver nearly found it in the 50th minute, as Díaz found Gabriel Bitar open in the box with a dangerous pass, but his shot sliced just wide of the net. Meanwhile, at the other end, Badibanga had an even better look at goal, but his curling attempt would once again be denied by Irving.

In the 53rd minute, however, Badibanga wouldn’t be denied on his third good look at goal. After a nice cross into the box from Cissé, Badibanga fired a perfect half-volley towards goal, powering his attempt past the hands of Irving and into the top corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Continuing a busy start to the half, Vancouver nearly found their opener in the 57th minute, as Grady McDonnell fired a backheel attempt towards goal on a corner, but his shot would be nicely saved by Koleilat.

Forge almost made it three in the 67th minute, as Borges flicked a dangerous cross towards a wide-open Choinière at the back post, but his seemingly goal-bound shot would be kept out by a strong save from Irving.

At the other end, Vancouver had another good look at goal in the 71st minute, as Austin Ricci fired a powerful shot just wide of the goal, narrowly missing out on a debut goal.

Meanwhile, Forge continued to push for that third, and had another great look in the 78th minute, as Bekker found Achinioti-Jönsson with a great low cross, but Achinioti-Jönsson turned his shot wide of the goal from close range.

That third would eventually come for Forge, however, as they’d breach Vancouver’s goal in the 83rd minute. After a perfect ball into the box from Choinière, Noah Jensen did well to control it and fire it in stride, sending his attempt into the top corner to make it 3-0.

Despite that, Vancouver found a goal to at least ensure they’d avoid going a fourth straight game without scoring a goal, as Ricci found TJ Tahid with a perfect cross to make it 3-1 in the 88th minute, giving the hosts something to play for late.

From there, however, even though Vancouver pushed for a late goal to make things interesting, their attempts would be thwarted and the game would finish 3-1, officially securing Forge’s playoff spot.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Vancouver FC: Irving; Gee (Cameron 58′), Campagna, Enyou (Romeo 46′), Bah; Rommens, Garcia (Ricci 46′); McDonnell (Cantave 58′), Bitar, Sellouf; Díaz (Tahid 79′)

Forge FC: Koleilat; Cissé, Achinioti-Jönsson, Metusala, Owolabi-Belewu (Samuel 74′); Hojabrpour, Bekker; Choinière (Hamilton 84′), Borges (Jensen 74′), Badibanga (Duncan 84′); Koné (Schiavoni 74′)

Goals

36′ — David Choinière (Forge FC)

53′ — Béni Badibanga (Forge FC)

83′ — Noah Jensen (Forge FC)

88′ — TJ Tahid (Vancouver FC)

Discipline

3′ — Yellow: Malik Owolabi-Belewu (Forge FC)

45+1′ — Yellow: Olivier Rommens (Vancouver FC)

47′ — Yellow: Grady McDonnell (Vancouver FC)

90+5′ — Yellow: Mikaël Cantave (Vancouver FC)