MATCH #11
FORGE FC (4-2-3) vs VALOUR FC (2-1-7)
When: Sunday, June 23rd, 3 p.m. CDT
Where: Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Ont.
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all Canadian Premier League games live https://onesoccer.ca/
MATCH PREVIEW:
Valour has a chance to close the gap on one of the two teams tied directly above them in the CPL standings in Forge FC — currently holding down the fifth-place spot with 14 points with Cavalry FC, but with two games in hand.
Valour played some of its best football of the season, and some of its worst, in last week’s 3-2 loss to Pacific FC — falling behind 2-nil, rallying to tie it before falling after an own goal — and prompting GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos to implore his squad to play with more humility. This match is part of a short week for Valour, as after returning home from Hamilton they’ll face York United FC at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday.
In the loss to Pacific Jordi Swibel scored his fifth goal, and fourth in the last six matches. His five goals leads Valour and is third in the CPL heading into Sunday’s action behind York’s Brian Wright (seven) and Tobias Warschewski (six) of Cavalry FC.
THE OTHER GUYS:
3 Facts about Forge FC
-These two squads played to a 1-1 draw in Hamilton in April and since then Forge FC has just one win, two draws and three losses.
-Veteran Tristan Borges is tied for the CPL lead in assists with York’s Wright with four. Borges and Beni Badibanga are tied for the Forge lead in goals with three each.
-Sunday’s match is the first of a stretch that will see Forge play three of their next four at home.
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:
#10: Shaan Hundal, forward: Valour needs the veteran forward/winger to be a presence and in the last few matches he’s done just that. Settling into the forward role with Swibel up top and scoring regularly, Hundal is still getting decent opportunities and scored his first goal of the season in the loss to Pacific. If Valour is to get back into the CPL playoff discussion, it will need more production from the wily CPL vet.
CRITICAL NUMBER
2.00
Valour is conceding an average of two goals per match, highest in the CPL this season. That number has spiked upwards since a 2-nil win over Vancouver FC on June 2nd. In the two matches since then Valour has given up five goals — three in the loss to Pacific and two in a 2-nil loss to Atlético Ottawa, including a penalty
All-Time: Valour FC vs. Forge FC
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 7-2-9
Last meeting: April 27, 2024, at Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton — Forge FC 2 Valour FC 1