Cavalry downs Forge, advances to CPL title game
Defending champion Forge still has a chance to join second-seeded Cavalry in the Nov. 9 final in Calgary, however.
Cavalry FC Advances to CPL Final with 1-0 Win Over Forge FC
Tobias Warschewski's goal in the 27th minute secured Cavalry FC's spot in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) championship game, defeating Forge FC 1-0 in the qualifying semifinal on Sunday.
Despite the loss, defending champions Forge FC still have a chance to reach the final, which takes place on November 9 in Calgary. Forge will host a semifinal match next Saturday against third-seeded Atletico Ottawa, which advanced earlier Sunday by defeating York United FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw following extra time.
This marks Cavalry's third trip to the CPL final, having previously lost to Forge in the 2019 and 2023 championships. Forge, on the other hand, suffered only its second-ever defeat in 14 playoff games, with a record of 10-2-2.
“It was a very tough performance from us. And it needed to be,” said Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
Cavalry came close to scoring in the 24th minute at Tim Hortons Field when Callum Montgomery's header was cleared off the line by Forge’s Alessandro Hojabrpour. Three minutes later, Warschewski capitalized on a long free kick from Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci, who launched the ball from outside his own penalty area, splitting the Forge defense. Warschewski controlled the ball with his chest, evaded a defender, rounded Forge goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat, and slotted it into the net.
“He’s unplayable, isn’t he,” said Wheeldon, praising Warschewski. “And credit to Marco. He saw an opportunity.”
Warschewski, who claimed the league’s Golden Boot Award with 12 goals in the regular season, proved decisive once again.
Forge had several chances in the first half, including a chaotic goalmouth scramble that went unfinished and a header from captain Kyle Bekker that hit the post. In the 53rd minute, Carducci denied a looping shot from Beni Badibanga, while Hojabrpour’s hard strike a minute later was saved by the Cavalry goalkeeper.
Cavalry's Jay Herdman, son of Toronto FC coach John Herdman, fired a shot over the bar in the 59th minute, and Daan Klomp’s header from an Ali Musse cross went narrowly wide three minutes later. Carducci also saved a powerful shot from substitute Noah Jensen in the 79th minute, while Bekker sent another attempt high in the 83rd minute.
During the regular season, Forge held a 2-1-1 edge over Cavalry, winning twice (2-1) at Tim Hortons Field and recording a loss (1-0) and a draw (1-1) at ATCO Field.
Forge is aiming for its fifth CPL title—and a third consecutive championship—in what will be its sixth post-season appearance. The Hamilton-based team previously won in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, finishing as runner-up in 2021. This year, it is also in pursuit of a league double, having topped the regular-season standings with a 15-8-5 record, edging out Cavalry (12-4-12) by two points.
Cavalry previously finished first in the regular season in both 2019 and 2023 but lost to Forge in the final on both occasions. In 2021, Cavalry reached the semifinals but lost 2-1 in extra time to Pacific FC, who went on to win the title. In 2022, Cavalry was eliminated by Forge in the two-legged semifinal, 3-2 on aggregate.
