Forge FC claims third CPL title by beating Atlético Ottawa
Posted Oct 31, 2022 10:45:00 AM.
Forge FC have reclaimed their spot at the head of the table.
The Hamilton-based soccer club has played in every Canadian Premier League (CPL) final in the four-year history of the league, winning the North Star Shield in 2019, 2020 and now 2022. All three of those championship wins have come on the road.
A first-half goal from Alessandro Hojabrpour and a second-half insurance marker from David Choiniere lifted Forge FC to a 2-0 win over Atlético Ottawa on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the CPL showcase match at TD Place.
“Happiness. We worked all year for this. That was our goal since the beginning of the season and to achieve it, you feel accomplished,” Choiniere said.
“We know they were going to have a low block so we just have to find the space in behind and by finding the space in behind you get corners, goal kicks, all situations, free kicks, like the first goal. That was the game plan.”
Atlético Ottawa was playing in its first league final of their four-year history and trying to complete a rags-to-riches story. Having finished last in the CPL in 2021, Ottawa were the regular-season champions this year and were hosting the CPL final as a result.
“We’ve had a brilliant season. A brilliant, brilliant season. Nobody thought at the beginning (of the season) that we could be here on the last game of the season. We’ve done history. We won the regular season, we’ve been the most consistent team throughout the season and we had a good final,” Atlético Ottawa coach Carlos González said.
Thank you to the 14,992 fans who joined us Sunday night at TD Place and thank you to the people of Ottawa and Gatineau for the support all season long.
