EDMONTON – During the thunderstorm that delayed the start of Wednesday's game at Clarke Stadium by 20 minutes, Forge FC's players and staff learned that Cavalry FC had clinched the Canadian Premier League spring title. Then, Forge went out and lost to FC Edmonton by a 1-0 to add insult to injury, the Eddies second win in a row. It was an Alberta double whammy for the men in orange. However, Forge FC coach Bobby Smyrniotis said that, while his team knew that Cavalry had just clinched the league, it didn't affect his team's performance. "I think we were already into our game preparations," he said. "We talked about it with the guys beforehand and just prepared them and said we're going into this game knowing what we have to do and not look at what happened in the other result. I think the guys obviously knew what happened there (at York) but they were still ready and prepared for the match." And he lamented his team's lack of finishing touch, especially in the first half. David Choiniere blasted over the bar from close range, and Kyle Bekker missed a wide-open goal. "We created a lot of opportunities and, on most days, we score a couple of goals," said Smyrniotis. For the Eddies, Oumar Diouck's 16th minute goal marked the first time the team has scored in league play on home turf. He poked a ball that looked to go right through Forge keeper Triston Henry, after a low cross from fullback Jeannot Esua. "We tried that in training with Jeannot," said Diouck. "Sometimes in training, we centre, we put it in the box, one touch. Sometimes, in the box, you have a bit of luck." The Eddies often overloaded the wings, having two players pressure Forge's ball carries on the outside. Tristan Borges often had to try and steer through both Allan Zebie and his brother, Bruno. On the other side, Son Yongchan and Esua combined to harry the opposition. "If you go back to the first game we played them (a 2-0 Forge win at the end of May), and the damage Borges caused us getting the ball out wide and then cutting inside, he's such a quality player, we know that about him," said Paulus. "So that was the idea. And I'm so happy for both Bruno and Allan, because you get them out there and they both have this work-rate that is through the roof." But, the best-laid plans of mice and men ... Paulus was forced to make changes when centre back Amer Didic limped off in the first half, and then when Son had to leave with a bad foot after a yellow-card challenge from Forge defender Bertrand Owundi. James Marcelin, normally a mid, was inserted into the back for Didic, while six-foot-six centre forward Easton Ongaro was asked to finish the game as winger. Paulus praised both players for taking on the challenge of playing out of position. "To have players come in against a real quality side — I can't understate how good Forge can be on the ball — but James Marcelin steps in at the back for his first minutes there this year. Easton Ongaro, who's a striker, but his work-rate's so good, he steps in and plays as a right outside mid. And they just stuck to the way we wanted to play, both of them. James was immense back there today. He controlled the back line." Edmonton will look to make it three wins in a row on Canada Day as the team takes on HFX Wanderers FC at Clarke Field.

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