PREVIEW: Forge FC vs. Pacific FC — Match #7

Pacific FC and Forge FC are set to meet for the first time on Wednesday at Tim Hortons Field (7 p.m. ET/OneSoccer). Forge is hoping for a stroke of luck following their disappointing 2-1 loss in Halifax. The pre-season favourites have just one point from their first two matches — a warning sign for the Hamilton-based club in the 10-match sprint to the Spring Season crown. Pacific, meanwhile, arrived in Hamilton on seven day's rest following their 2-1 defeat to Valour FC at Westhills Stadium. Wednesday’s match is the first away fixture for Pacific FC, a team that is staring down a long travel itinerary in 2019. How will the team adjust to a long away trip for the first time? Forge will continue their quest to make up ground in the Spring Season on Sunday when they host Cavalry (1 p.m. ET/OneSoccer) at Tim Hortons Field. Pacific’s next match will be a special one – away to FC Edmonton in the club’s home opener at Clarke Stadium on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. MT/OneSoccer).

• Marcus Haber: Arguably the highest-rated No. 9 yet to score in the CPL, Haber is expected to procure in front of goal. His league-leading eight shots, strong link-up play and ability to generate clear-cut chances should translate to match-winners at some point.
• Home Field Advantage: The pomp and circumstance of the Inaugural Match might not have lent itself to the "fortress" atmosphere Forge is hoping to experience at Tim Hortons Field (perhaps the early York9 goal is an example of this). It’s hard to forget the large home crowd we saw on April 27. So in a second, more relaxed home match, Forge's players could get more of a boost out of the home support than they did in that nervy, history-making home opener.
• Backline: Pacific FC’s defence could approached opening day strength. Lukas MacNaughton has served his one-match ban after seeing red against HFX Wanderers and Volkswagen Premier Performer winner Hendrik Starostzik remains questionable. The centreback pairing was crucial in earning PFC the first (and currently only) clean sheet in CPL history.

Forge FC: Triston Henry; Kwame Awuah, Dominic Samuel, Bertrand Owundi Eko'o, Giuliano Frano; Elimane Oumar Cissé, Daniel Krutzen, Tristan Borges; Kadell Thomas, Emery Welshman, Chris Nanco Pacific FC: Mark Village; Blake Smith, Hendrik Starostzik, Lukas MacNaughton, Blake Smith; José Hernández, Noah Verhoeven, Matthew Baldisimo, Ben Fisk; Victor Blasco, Marcus Haber

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