Forge reach Canadian Championship final with win over Supra
Ben Paton's first-half goal settled the semi-final at home, and Forge now face CF Montréal in the final at Stade Saputo on October 21.
· by Colin Radek · canadian championship · voyageurs cup · ben paton
Forge FC are into the Telus Canadian Championship final. A 1-0 win over FC Supra du Québec in Hamilton on Tuesday, Sept. 15 sent the club through on a semifinal that had been level after the first leg finished 1-1.
Ben Paton provided the decisive moment in the 26th minute, and Forge protected the lead from there. The numbers suggest it was not comfortable: Supra had 12 shots to Hamilton's eight and three on target to Forge's two. Forge did hold a narrow advantage in corners, 6-5.
The final is on Wednesday, October 21, and Forge will be on the road for it. CF Montréal won the other semi-final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, so the trophy will be decided at Stade Saputo in Montréal.
The stakes go beyond the trophy itself. The Canadian Championship is the country's top domestic knockout competition, with the Voyageurs Cup on offer along with a place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Since the men's Canadian Championship began in 2002, only the MLS sides of Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto FC have won it. The Whitecaps have taken the last four, most recently beating the CPL's Vancouver FC 4-2 in last year's final.
That history is the backdrop to what Forge are walking into next month. A CPL club has reached the final before and come up short. For now, the league schedule carries on: Forge sit second in the table on 46 points after 22 games, following a 1-1 draw at Cavalry FC on Saturday, Sept. 19, and travel to Vancouver FC on Saturday, Sept. 26.