Cavalry FC–Forge FC rivalry

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Cavalry–Forge rivalry
Kit body cavalry19a.png
Cavalry FC
Kit body forge19h.png
Forge FC
First meetingForge 1–2 Cavalry
Canadian Premier League
(May 12, 2019)
Latest meetingForge 0–1 Cavalry
Canadian Premier League
(November 16, 2021)
StadiumsATCO Field, Calgary
Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton
Statistics
Meetings total14
Top scorerKyle Bekker
Anthony Novak
(5 goals each)
All-time seriesForge: 7
Draw: 2
Cavalry: 5

The Cavalry–Forge rivalry is a soccer rivalry between Calgary-based Cavalry FC and Forge FC of Hamilton, Ontario. The two clubs began play in 2019 and faced each other nine times that season with all matches being decided by one goal or fewer.[1] The clubs were the top teams in the inaugural Canadian Premier League season and the natural rivalry that developed between them has been described as the best in the league.[2]

History[]

Forge FC hosts Cavalry FC at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton

The first match between Cavalry and Forge was played on May 12, 2019, at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Cavalry won the game 2–1 with the winning goal from Nico Pasquotti coming late in stoppage time.[3] The following month, the two clubs met in the second round of the 2019 Canadian Championship. Once again, Cavalry scored late into stoppage time in Hamilton; this time on a penalty kick to equalize after Forge goalkeeper Quillan Roberts was sent off for a foul.[4] The drama continued after the match when a scrum broke out between the two teams with opposing players exchanging pushes and shouts.[5]

The day after the match, Cavalry player Jordan Brown accused Forge FC coach Peter Reynders of using racist remarks during the post game scrum, a claim which was supported by his teammates Elijah Adekugbe and Nathan Mavila.[6] Following an investigation, Reynders was initially found to be guilty by the Canadian Soccer Association and suspended 45 days for the incident, however the decision was overturned on appeal.[7] In June 2020, Forge players defended Reynders publicly.[8] The case was referred to a third party, and Reynders was cleared of the charges in August 2020.[9] The match and subsequent allegations are considered to be the first significant moment of the rivalry.[2] In the return leg of the Canadian Championship tie at ATCO Field, Cavalry won 2–1 to advance in the competition.[10]

On June 22, 2019, Forge and Cavalry faced off for the fourth time that season and the third time in 19 days. With a draw, Cavalry could clinch the top record in the 10-game spring season while Forge needed a win to remain in contention.[11] Forge won the game 1–0 on an early goal from captain Kyle Bekker, ending Cavalry's run of seven straight wins to start the season.[12] Cavalry won their following game on June 26 to claim the spring title and a spot in the 2019 Canadian Premier League Finals. Forge secured their place in the finals with a win on September 28.[13]

Forge hosted the first leg of the 2019 CPL Finals on October 26 in Hamilton. In the 37th minute, Cavalry defender Joel Waterman handled the ball in his own penalty area while sliding to prevent a scoring chance. Waterman was sent off and Forge was awarded a penalty kick. League-leading scorer Tristan Borges took the penalty kick but it was stopped by Marco Carducci to keep the game scoreless. Late into first half stoppage time, Borges scored the game's only goal, beating Carducci with a left-footed strike to give Forge the lead going into halftime.[14] In the 69th minute, a challenge between Borges and Jay Wheeldon of Cavalry sent both players to the ground. As a result of the play, Borges was shown a red card and both teams finished the match with 10 players.[15][16] After the match, Cavalry and Forge appealed their respective red cards to the Canadian Soccer Association but only the suspension to Forge's Tristan Borges was overturned, allowing him to play in the second leg.[17][18] During the second leg in Calgary on November 2, a total of seven yellow cards were issued.[19] Forge scored the game's only goal late in stoppage time and won the series 2–0 on aggregate, becoming the first-ever champions of the Canadian Premier League.

The season opener of the 2020 CPL Island Games was chosen to be a rematch of the 2019 final. The match ended a 2–2 draw with Cavalry equalizing in the 94th minute with a controversial penalty kick.[20] Forge would get their revenge by defeating Cavalry 1–0 in their final group stage match to clinch a spot in the 2020 Canadian Premier League Final while also eliminating Cavalry.[21]

Results[]

  Cavalry FC win   Draw   Forge FC win

Competition Date Home team Result Away team Venue Attendance Recap
2019 Canadian Premier League season May 12, 2019 Forge 1–2 Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 5,921 [1]
2019 Canadian Championship June 4, 2019 Forge 1–1 Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 5,174 [2]
June 11, 2019 Cavalry 2–1 Forge ATCO Field, Calgary 4,000 [3]
2019 Canadian Premier League season June 22, 2019 Cavalry 0–1 Forge ATCO Field, Calgary 4,697 [4]
August 25, 2019 Forge 1–0 Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 6,883 [5]
October 9, 2019 Cavalry 2–1 Forge ATCO Field, Calgary 1,938 [6]
October 16, 2019 Forge 1–0 Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 3,864 [7]
2019 Canadian Premier League Finals October 26, 2019 Forge 1–0 Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 10,486 [8]
November 2, 2019 Cavalry 0–1 Forge ATCO Field, Calgary 5,831 [9]
2020 Canadian Premier League season August 13, 2020 Forge 2–2 Cavalry Alumni Field, Charlottetown 0 [10]
September 15, 2020 Cavalry 0–1 Forge Alumni Field, Charlottetown 0 [11]
2021 Canadian Premier League season July 8, 2021 Cavalry 0–2 Forge IG Field, Winnipeg 0 [12]
July 22, 2021 Forge 1–2 Cavalry IG Field, Winnipeg 0 [13]
November 16, 2021 Forge 0–1 Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 2,104 [14]

Statistics[]

As of November 16, 2021
Competition Matches Wins Draws Goals
Cavalry Forge Cavalry Forge
Canadian Premier League 10 4 5 1 9 11
Canadian Premier League Finals 2 0 2 0 0 2
Canadian Championship 2 1 0 1 3 2
Total matches 14 5 7 2 12 15

League ranking by season[]

P. 2019 2020 2021
Season Finals 1st 2nd Final Season Playoffs
1 1 C 1 1 C 1
2 2 RU 2 RU
3 3 3 SF
4
5
6
7
8

Records[]

Players in bold are still active players with a team.

Players who played for both clubs[]

Forge, then Cavalry[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Thompson, Marty (October 21, 2019). "Match-by-match: How Forge-Cavalry became the CPL's defining matchup". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Jacques, John (June 5, 2019). "In Forge and Cavalry Lies The League's Best Rivalry". Northern Tribune. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Pasquotti's last-gasp goal gives Cavalry win over Forge". Canadian Premier League. May 12, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Strasser, Scott (June 6, 2019). "Cavalry/Forge rivalry on full display in Canadian Championship draw but unsavoury aftermath and allegations dominate postgame chat". AFTN. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Milton, Steve (October 21, 2019). "It's a blood feud between Forge and Cavalry for first CPL title". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  6. ^ John Jacques (June 5, 2019). "Cavalry FC Players Accuse Forge FC Assistant Coach Of Making Racist Remarks". Northern Tribune.
  7. ^ Todd Saelhof (August 27, 2019). "Forge FC assistant coach banned by CSA for discriminatory remarks". Calgary Sun.
  8. ^ Steve Milton (June 15, 2020). "Hamilton Forge takes fire for allegations against coach". Hamilton Spectator.
  9. ^ Neil Davidson (August 11, 2020). "Independent review clears Forge FC assistant coach of racism charge". Midland Press.
  10. ^ Spencer, Donna (June 11, 2019). "Cavalry beat Forge FC, face Vancouver Whitecaps in 3rd round of Canadian Championship". The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "'They're not unbeatable': Bekker ready for must-win Cavalry tilt". Canadian Premier League (in Canadian English). June 21, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "Forge hands Cavalry 1st loss as Spring race intensifies". Canadian Premier League (in Canadian English). June 22, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. ^ Saelhof, Todd (September 28, 2019). "Undermanned Cavalry guts out point in draw with host York9". Calgary Sun. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Milton, Steve (October 28, 2019). "Forge downs Cavalry, but loses top scorer for second half of CPL final". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  15. ^ Jaques, John (October 27, 2019). "Forge Takes First Leg Of CPL Finals". Northern Tribune. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  16. ^ Molinaro, John (October 26, 2019). "HIGHLIGHTS: Borges, Carducci shine in red-card laden Leg 1 tilt". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  17. ^ "Forge FC and Cavalry FC both appeal controversial red cards from CPL Finals leg one". Waking The Red. October 27, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Forge FC's Tristan Borges wins appeal, will play 2nd leg of final". Sportsnet.ca. Canadian Press. October 31, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  19. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 2, 2019). "Forge FC crowned CPL champions in win over Cavalry (EN/FR)". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "Cavalry salvages controversial draw with Forge in CPL's Island Games opener". www.sportsnet.ca. Canadian Press. August 13, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  21. ^ Quon, Alexander (September 15, 2020). "HFX Wanderers, Forge FC advance to CPL final as Cavalry FC knocked out of Island Games". Global News. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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