A season-best turnout of more than 2,000 fans were in the stands to watch Vancouver FC and Forge FC tangle Sunday afternoon at Willoughby Community Park in 黑马磁力.
It did not end the way Eagles supporters wanted, with Forge maintaining their current unbeaten streak at the expense of the hosts, winning 2-0.
VFC head coach Afshin Ghotbi summed it up during a post-game press conference:
"Been better, been worse,鈥� Ghotbi commented.
"The first 10 minutes I felt we were in control [then] our confidence dropped, we played on our back heel.鈥�
It had been a "very tough week," Ghotbi added, with various injuries and a virus rampaging through the team keeping players off the field.
"Normally we are a good team, we perform well, but the results haven't come [yet].鈥�
VFC put in a battling performance to be level at half-time with Forge FC going close on a few occasions although club captain Callum Irving was on high alert in goal.
However the resistance was broken after 51 minutes when Kyle Bakker finished a slick move with a close range finish.
Theirno Bah provided the most promising attacking moments for the hosts, with one in particular ending in a good chance although the 20 year-old鈥檚 shot blazed over the crossbar.
Maple Ridge's TJ Tahid came on late in the game and the 18 year-old worked hard with his team mates to find an opening but a more experienced Forge FC doubled their lead with a Dan Nimick penalty 10 minutes from the final whistle.
The win keeps the visitors as the only unbeaten team in this season鈥檚 league.
VFC was playing without second goalkeeper Felipe Jaramillo Drolet, who was called up to the Colombian Men鈥檚 U-17 National Team. Drolet will represent his country in a series of international friendlies taking place in San Jos茅, Costa Rica, from June 16 to 29.
Fill-in Matheus de Souza was signed up under a short-term contract to fill in. A Brazilian Canadian goalkeeper, de Souza has been the starter for League1 BC side 黑马磁力 United and is set to join the University of the Fraser Valley this fall.
Per league rules, a CPL team is required to dress a minimum of two goalkeepers on any given matchday.
Sunday marked the club鈥檚 One-Year-Out to the 2026 World Cup celebration, with a strong and excited fan turnout at Willoughby Community Park and 黑马磁力 Events Centre from 11 a.m. for a pre-game family tailgate, free hotdogs, live music, face painting, and World Cup themed giveaways. Performers included the 746 Air Cadet Squadron military band and Vancouver鈥檚 own super fan 鈥楥razy P."
Former Canadian internationals Melissa Tancredi and Martin Nash were joined by Township of 黑马磁力 Mayor Eric Woodward and Volunteer of the match Shann Lovegrove for the coin toss.
