Forge FC snatched a point from Cavalry FC on Saturday afternoon as a very late Jordan Hamilton equalizer meant the two sides settled for a second draw between them of 2023 in a spirited ATCO Field encounter.
The hosts found early joy in this match, as Sergio Camargo did well to chase down a ball in the corner and sent it back along the touchline, where José Escalante quickly whipped a cross into the box. The ball skipped up off Myer Bevan for Ali Musse, who smashed it in past Triston Henry at the near post.
After that ninth-minute goal, Cavalry continued looking for a second with some aggressive attacking play, as they had a handful of good chances in transition though Forge managed to get back and defend the rest of them. The visitors, meanwhile, were patient with more possession than their opponents, although no major chances appeared for them as they went into halftime down 1-0.
The second half opened in similar fashion, with Musse nearly scoring another with a diving header, but still Forge pressed for an equalizer. Kyle Bekker nearly had it in the 55th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box, but Marco Carducci got down in time for a brilliant one-handed save on his line.
Around the hour mark, Forge boss Bobby Smyrniotis opted to shake up his attack and deploy Tristan Borges, a more natural winger, in place of Terran Campbell, also bringing Dom Samuel into the backline to replace Garven Metusala. Tommy Wheeldon Jr. shortly responded with a double change of his own, bringing Mikaël Cantave into his attack and Charlie Trafford into midfield.
Forge continued to ask questions of the Cavalry defence, with one chance in the box — triggered by a Manjrekar James bicycle kick attempt — making its way toward the goal and off the post.
The match became much more stop-start in the closing stages, with Cavalry looking to manage the pace of play and Forge trying desperately to create chances; the Cavs took three yellow cards within the final 10 minutes, but the hosts were unmoved by Forge’s attempts to get play moving.
At last, though, Forge found their breakthrough. Kyle Bekker sent a perfect cross into the six-yard box from near the left touchline, and it sailed over all the traffic to the foot of Jordan Hamilton, who deflected it in to save a point for the visitors at the death.
Despite one last Cavalry chance at the very end, the sides would ultimately have to split the points as Forge remain yet again at the top of the CPL standings.
BOX SCORE
Goals
9′ — Ali Musse (Cavalry FC)
90+4′ — Jordan Hamilton (Forge FC)
Discipline
19′ — Yellow: Jesse Daley (Cavalry FC)
30′ — Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (Forge FC)
43′ — Yellow: Udoka Chima (Cavalry FC)
65′ — Yellow: Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
75′ — Yellow: Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC)
86′ — Yellow: Bradley Kamdem (Cavalry FC)
87′ — Yellow: Roberto Alarcón (Cavalry FC)
88′ — Yellow: Charlie Trafford (Cavalry FC)
