Match #15

FORGE FC (7-2-4) vs. VALOUR FC (5-5-4)

When: Saturday, July 23, 3:30 p.m. CT

Where: Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, ON.

How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all CPL games live https://onesoccer.ca/

MATCH PREVIEW:

Valour FC opens up the second half of their 2022 schedule with a matinee in Hamilton and against a Forge FC squad which is just ahead of them in the CPL standings. Valour is fifth overall at 20 points, while Forge is at 23 and with a match in hand. The top four teams in the CPL qualify for the playoffs.

Valour is coming off a valiant effort in a 1-1 draw against Atlético Ottawa on Wednesday, in a match that was originally scheduled for last Sunday in the capital but was pushed to later in the week because of COVID-19 protocols. That led to some travel and logistical nightmares as the team attempted to get to Ottawa, but the club battled to earn a critical road point while extending its unbeaten streak to four with three wins and the draw.

After this quick two-match turnaround Valour will return home for what could be a critical chunk of their schedule, as seven of their next eight will be at IG Field.

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VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:

#3 Rocco Romeo, D: Valour’s big centre back has really grown his game in 2022. The club’s leader in minutes played is a big force at 6-4 and alongside veteran Andrew Jean-Baptiste on the back line and has played a controlled and mature game this season.

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CRITICAL NUMBER

4-1-0

Valour lost its first five games against Forge FC from the franchise’s inception in 2019. Since then, the club has a draw and four straight wins in league play against their Hamilton rivals.

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All-time Valour FC vs. Forge FC

Overall: (win-draw-loss): 4-1-6

Regular season

May 16, 2019, IG Field: Valour FC 0 Forge FC 2

June 15, 2019, Tim Hortons Field: Forge FC 2 Valour FC 1

July 20, 2019, Tim Hortons Field: Forge FC 3 Valour FC 1

August 17, 2019, IG Field: Valour FC 1 Forge FC 3

September 12, 2019, IG Field: Valour FC 1 Forge FC 3

September 4, 2020, Island Games, PEI: Forge FC 2 Valour FC 2

June 27, 2021, ‘The Kickoff’ at IG Field: Forge FC 0 Valour FC 2

July 11, 2021, ‘The Kickoff’ at IG Field: Valour FC 1 Forge FC 0

October 11, 2021, IG Field: Valour FC 3 Forge FC 1

June 29, 2022, Tim Hortons Field: Forge FC 0 Valour FC 1

Canadian Championship

September 15, 2021, Tim Hortons Field: Forge FC 2 Valour FC 1