2024 CPL Regular Season — Match #11 Forge FC vs. Valour FC April 27, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here​


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The champions are at home once again this weekend as Forge FC return to Tim Hortons Field looking to extend their perfect start to the 2024 Canadian Premier League season. The challenge for them this time, however, is a Valour FC side that has proven tricky to deal with in the past. The Winnipeg-based club has enjoyed some success in their visits to Hamilton the past few years, with a draw there in 2023 and a gutsy win in 2022. Overall, Valour are one of the most successful clubs against Forge historically; their seven wins against the Hammers are the joint-most (with Cavalry and York United) of any CPL team, and in the fewest total meetings of those three sides. However, the 2024 campaign has not begun smoothly for Valour. They were beaten soundly by Vancouver FC, a 4-1 scoreline in both clubs' season opener. Last weekend, Valour continued to struggle in B.C. as they lost 2-0 at Pacific FC despite a positive first-half showing. As it stands, then, Valour currently find themselves in the same place as they ended last year: the bottom of the table. They're looking for their first points of the year as they enter match three of the seven-game road trip that'll begin their season. That's a tough proposition for Phillip Dos Santos and co. as they head to play Forge, who are one of three sides to begin the year with a perfect six points from two games. They began their season with a 2-1 comeback victory against Cavalry FC at home, before trouncing 905 Derby rivals York United 3-0 last Sunday at York Lions Stadium. Bobby Smyrniotis' side is clicking better than it ever has at the opening stages of a CPL season, which makes them one of the most feared opponents in the league. Heading into their third game of the year, Valour continue to be bitten by the injury bug somewhat. They'll get Jordan Faria back from suspension for this game, but they might have lost Roberto Alarcón, who has a minor knock that needs to be managed this week after coming off at halftime at Pacific. Tass Mourdoukoutas is still working his way back from a ligament strain while Raphael Ohin, who's in full training, is still building up to full match fitness. It's also unlikely we see season debuts for Kian Williams or Marcello Polisi, with no timeline for either player just yet according to Dos Santos. Forge, meanwhile, remain fairly healthy, with Noah Jensen returning to the bench last week. They'll also be getting defender Garven Metusala back into the matchday 18, according to head coach Smyrniotis. However, they still await work visa clearance for Nana Ampomah and Elimane Cisse, with those two international additions unlikely to be ready to play just yet.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.

3 THINGS TO WATCH​

  • Valour must turn strong starts into goals: Valour FC coach Phil Dos Santos has been encouraged by the positive signs he's seen in both first halves his team has played this year, but the team has nothing to show for it, despite even taking the lead against Vancouver. The next step in their evolution is to turn those positive stretches of play into results and, more specifically, goals. Fortunately, Valour have scored the first goal in nine of their last 11 league matches against Forge. Expect them to come of of the gates aggressive, looking to get on the board early. "Players need to be proactive, look more for the threatening spaces in behind the opposition," Dos Santos said this week. "Sometimes it doesn't need to be the perfect pass; one ball over the top, one ball in behind, even if you don't get there you can jump on a second ball or turn the opposition and put a bit of pressure on them. Sometimes we're a bit too cute in and around the box, I just want more of a pragmatic approach -- a little bit more objective, a little bit more decisive."

  • Forge attack clicking at dangerous rate: Individually, all of Terran Campbell, David Choinière, Tristan Borges and Béni Badibanga have gone through periods of excellent form at Forge. However, it's been rare for all of them to be both healthy and in form at the same time. That's the case early in this season, as they've propelled Forge to a 2-0-0 start for the first time in club history. Borges has a goal and three assists so far, while Badibanga and Choinière (the CPL's reigning Player of the Week) each have two goals. The Forge attack has looked deadly so far, especially against York, with the way all their forward players have been able to interchange across the pitch and play into dangerous areas, cutting through opposing defences at a consistent rate.

  • Valour's high-risk, high-reward press an area to watch: One thing Valour have traditionally done under Dos Santos, especially against Forge, has been pressing high up the pitch and looking to win the ball and create transitional situations. Of course, against a team as well-drilled and lethal as Forge, that can be a gamble; getting caught too high up the pitch could make for an easy trip into the penalty area for the Hammers. Still, it can also cause chaos and prevent Forge from implementing their methodical game plan, so it's a gamble Valour are willing to make. "When you're aggressive in the press you always expose yourself to a couple emergency situations in the way you defend, but that's part of the game," Dos Santos said, adding: "It's always a dilemma, where do you take away the space? Do you give a little bit more in front of you and protect the space in behind? [Forge] is a team that if you give them too much time and space on the ball, they're going to find ways of ripping you apart."

PROJECTED STARTING XIs​


Forge FC: Kalongo; Duncan, Achinioti-Jönsson, Owolabi-Belewu, Parra; Hojabrpour, Bekker, Borges; Choinière, Campbell, Badibanga

Valour FC: Viscosi; Samake, Chantzopoulos, Facchineri; Sukunda, Campbell, Verhoeven, Antonoglou; Swibel, Hundal, Faria​

ALL-TIME SERIES​


Forge FC wins: 9 || Valour FC wins: 7 || Draws: 2

Last meeting:

Sept. 18, 2023 — Halifax Wanderers 3-2 Atlético Ottawa​

KEY QUOTES​


"A lot of our high quality opporutnities, goals, have come from things we've been preaching, working on and discussing with the players. I think that's very good. On the flip side too, defensively I think we've been good to limit opponents, doing the right things, being a little bit more aggressive. All around the tactical side is coming along very well early in the season." -- Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis

“Our levels of concentration need to be very high, and again capitalize on our chances. The team needs to add on the good things. We need to grab on what was good, and now instead of 45, can we go 60, 70, 80, 90, and then when we do get the lead or go a goal down, do a better job in managing those moments.” — Valour FC head coach Phillip Dos Santos​

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