Can Forge FC Make CPL History? Shield Race & Playoff Preview

Seven goals separate Forge FC from first place on goal difference. According to the latest standings ahead of the final round, the Hamilton, Ontario-based club and Cavalry FC each have 57 points after 27 matches, but Cavalry leads by +34 to +27 on goal difference. The CPL Shield race goes to the final round.

How Forge FC Reached Another CPL Shield Contention

Three straight wins have kept Forge in contention: 3-0 against Pacific FC, 5-0 against Inter Toronto, and 2-1 at Atlético Ottawa. Anthony Aromatario and Levonte Johnson scored their first CPL goals for Forge in the Ottawa victory.

Those three Forge FC games produced 10 goals, leaving the 2024 and 2025 Shield winners chasing a third consecutive Canadian Premier League Shield. No club has ever finished first in three straight CPL regular seasons, so another Shield would set a league record.

The Forge FC schedule concludes on October 25 against Pacific in Victoria; Cavalry hosts Vancouver the same day. Forge needs Cavalry to drop points or must make up the substantial goal-difference gap to claim first place.

Forge FC’s Playing Style and Tactical Identity

Against Pacific, Forge recorded 19 touches in the box but managed just two shots on target in the opening 40 minutes. Noah Jensen then intercepted a misplaced pass and scored, before Lucas Cavallini and Ben Paton added goals in a 3-0 victory.

Forge FC coach Bobby Smyrniotis favors quick switches and midfield pressure. Against high-pressing Inter Toronto, formerly York United, his team attacked the space behind the wing-backs.

Five players scored in the 5-0 rout. That 5-0 Forge FC score reflected considerably sharper finishing than the hesitant opening against Pacific.

Why the Playoffs Have Been a Different Challenge

Four playoff titles between 2019 and 2023 established Forge’s record. Cavalry then won the 2024 final 2-1 and eliminated Forge 1-0 in 2025.

The 2025 match analysis reveals Forge’s attacking struggles: 30 crosses, only six completed, 0.82 expected goals, and two shots on target.

The two-legged semifinals in 2026 offer an opportunity to adjust tactics between matches. However, the forwards must turn more of their possession into clear chances.

Forge FC’s Biggest Strengths Heading Into the Playoffs

Forge has already secured a top-two finish, guaranteeing it home advantage in the second leg of its semifinal. The team has conceded just 21 goals in 27 league matches, giving Bobby Smyrniotis a reliable defensive foundation. That record has kept Forge competitive throughout the season, although late goals against Halifax and Ottawa show the consistency has not been complete.

In attack, goals have come from both midfielders and forwards, making the team less dependent on individual players. Combined with their playoff experience, this balance gives Forge a strong chance of competing for another championship.

Attacking Threat and Chance Creation

Jensen and Paton scored against both Pacific and Inter Toronto. Nana Ampomah, Antoine Batisse, and Marko Jevremović also found the net against Inter, providing alternatives when Cavallini is closely marked.

Jensen’s contribution goes beyond scoring. He created four chances and attempted four shots against Pacific, earning the league’s Player of the Match award.

Defensive Organization and Experience

Dan Nimick helped deliver consecutive clean sheets against Pacific and Inter, with Dino Bontis in goal.

Nimick also recorded four interceptions against Inter, disrupting attacks before they reached the penalty area. His positioning and ability to recover possession will matter in the two-legged semifinals.

Key Players Who Could Decide Forge FC’s Playoff Run

Among the Forge FC players, Jensen is the creative midfielder to watch. Paton offers late scoring runs, Nimick anchors the defense, and Cavallini, who joined Forge on September 18, brings international experience.

The Forge FC roster must compensate for Kyle Bekker’s absence. The former captain retired on October 1 after suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

His departure creates a leadership challenge for Smyrniotis in matches when Forge must regain control after conceding.

Forge FC vs Cavalry FC: A Rivalry That Defines the CPL

This rivalry connects Hamilton with Calgary, Alberta. Forge defeated Cavalry in the 2019 and 2023 finals, but the Calgary club captured the 2024 championship and eliminated Forge again in 2025.

Cavalry’s recent playoff success has changed the balance between the two clubs. Their latest Shield contest adds another chapter, with both teams entering the final round level on points.

The western Canadian soccer landscape has also changed. FC Edmonton folded after 2022, Valour FC suspended operations in Manitoba after 2025, and Saskatchewan remains without a CPL club. Cavalry remains Forge’s most established western football rival.

What Forge FC Needs to Improve in High-Stakes Matches

On October 3, Forge twice squandered two-goal leads against the Halifax Wanderers, who equalized in the 103rd minute to make it 3-3.

Against ten-man Ottawa two weeks later, Forge led 2-0 but conceded a 97th-minute penalty that made it 2-1. Neither match ended in a defeat, but late goals like those could decide a knockout tie.

Fixture congestion added another challenge. On October 21, Forge defeated CF Montréal 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Canadian Championship final, becoming the first CPL club to lift the Voyageurs Cup. The victory came four days before its final league match.

Earlier in that cup competition, Forge eliminated FC Supra du Québec, a new club based in the greater Montreal area.

Can Forge FC Finally Turn Regular-Season Success Into Playoff Dominance?

Ten goals in three consecutive league victories put another trophy within reach. Yet the 2025 elimination against Cavalry remains a reminder of its attacking shortcomings: only six of Forge’s 30 crosses found teammates.

The clinical finishing against Inter Toronto shows how Forge can fix that in November. It now needs to pair that sharpness with the concentration that slipped in the late lapses against Halifax and Ottawa. With 21 goals conceded, the league’s best record, Forge has the defence to reach the final. Whether it dominates will depend on taking its chances across both legs of the semifinal and closing out matches without conceding late.

Another Shield remains possible, but Forge needs Cavalry to drop points on the final day or must overturn its own goal-difference disadvantage. Its playoff hopes will depend on maintaining the attacking form it has shown in recent matches.

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FAQ

How many CPL championships has Forge FC won?
Four playoff championships: 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Forge also topped the regular-season standings in 2021, 2024, and 2025, according to the club’s official historical record. The CPL Shield rewards the regular-season leader, while the North Star Cup goes to the playoff champion.
Why has Forge FC struggled to dominate the CPL playoffs?
Its recent difficulties stem from defeats to Cavalry and an attack that has not turned possession into chances. The Calgary side won the 2024 final and eliminated Forge in 2025, when only six of Forge’s 30 crosses were completed, and only two of its shots were on target.
Who are Forge FC’s key players to watch in the playoffs?
Noah Jensen, Ben Paton, Dan Nimick, and Lucas Cavallini are among the leading figures. Former captain Kyle Bekker retired on October 1 after suffering a season-ending ACL injury.
How does the CPL playoff format work?
The Canadian Premier League playoff bracket includes four teams. First faces fourth and second meets third across two-legged semifinals, with aggregate winners advancing to a single-match final. The top four regular-season teams qualify, and the higher seed hosts the second leg; tied aggregates go to extra time and then penalties if necessary, with no away-goals rule. The CPL playoff schedule begins October 31, with the final confirmed for November 21. The winner lifts the North Star Cup.