Final Score: Forge FC 2-0 Atlético Ottawa
Goalscorers: Babouli – PK (39′), Metusala (43′)
Game of the 2021 season: 42
CPL match: 177
Match in a minute or less
Forge FC followed up their double banner hanging ceremony with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atlético Ottawa Sunday afternoon at Tim Hortons Field.
Mo Babouli convincingly converted from the spot before Garven Metusala added an insurance marker moments later to give the Hammers a 2-0 advantage going into the second half — they’d also close out the contest with a man advantage as Viti Martinez was cautioned twice before the break.
With a morning flight to El Salvador for Concacaf League play later this week, Forge saw out the proceedings with a mature second half display marked by plenty of possession in their own end of the pitch in a textbook display of game management to secure all three points and their first home win of the season.
Three Observations
Moments of frustration, costly mistakes prove fatal for Ottawa
In what turned out to be their fifth consecutive match without a win, Atlético shot themselves in the foot several times just before the half time whistle after what was a decent opening half hour against Forge.
Struggling to really involved further up the pitch, Ryan Telfer dropped deeper and deeper to get on the ball as the first half ticked on. Tracking Tristan Borges in possession in the Ottawa area, Telfer went in a little carelessly and after sending Borges to ground, Babouli would make it 1-0 from the spot thanks to the ensuing PK conceded by the Atlético attacker.
After Metusala doubled the Hammers advantage four minutes later, the body language of players in red and white would only worsen when Viti Martinez picked up two careless cautions, sending his side into the second half short a player.
It was mistakes like these that really buried Ottawa on Sunday according to head coach Mista: “I think we paid a very high price for the mistakes we made… we started well, we had chances to score that we missed.”
While Mista was pleased with his group’s response in the second half, it becomes increasingly more difficult to accept moral victories as the season goes on and they remain at the bottom of the league table.
Set piece goals a Forge reward for doing the right things
Slotting home a penalty kick through Babouli and getting a second from a great free kick into the box from Borges, powerfully deposited by a Metusala header, dead ball situations were the difference for Forge against Ottawa.
Following a disappointing result considering the number of chances the Hammers created against York United last time out, the set piece rewards on Sunday were warranted given the way his team performed according to Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis: “Set plays are a virtue of what you do in open play… you when the penalty shot by good play, good vertical movement in the box, so that’s how you’ve won that and the same thing with the freekick, we’d won two in a row, in that moment we’re playing good football in the outside channel.”
“If it’s coming from footballing moments that you’re winning those set pieces, then we’re even more happy.”
While the Martinez was another big moment in dictating how the match played out, Forge looked full marks for the win not only through set piece conversion. Enjoying a man advantage and a two goal lead, the champs flexed their ball moving abilities in the second half in smoothly sailing to their sixth win of the season.
Second half a Forge clinic in game management
A pedigree for winning in this league helps ensure moments like Sunday’s second half come with as few nerves as possible for Forge.
With a Thursday match in El Salvador to consider, the home team was able to give the likes of Babouli, Bekker and Borges a rest towards the end of the contest thanks to an early lead and the confidence to see out the game with the aid of several substitutes. Its games like today’s that Smyrniotis is grateful to have a deeper squad as the group of players fit and available for selection continues to grow:
“That’s the beauty of getting players back, having guys that are properly training and getting going. That’s one of the things we looked at as a staff at halftime. We knew we had the 2-0 lead, we were up a man and it was about controlling the game, so we switched tactics around a little bit, it was very possession heavy and not to chase things, just allow things to happen organically.”
Possession in the second half was very one sided with Forge owning 66.4% of the ball thanks to the extra body while also completing a collective 93.3% of their passes after the interval.
It might have made for very little two-way traffic but the adjustments were effective. In a congested run of fixtures, it was about preserving energy levels, particularly with the heat in Hamilton on Sunday said Smyrniotis.
“We wanted to make sure the game didn’t get into transitions or that players were having to cover too many metres, just allow the ball to work around the pitch with our eyes set on the next game.”
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Garven Metusala, Forge FC
The 21-year-old defender couldn’t keep the smile off his face post-match in discussing his first career professional goal. The headed finish itself was arguably worthy of MOTM honours but Metusala was also instrumental in retaining the ball while leading in the second half, completing 57/60 passes while winning 80% (4/5) of the duels he was involved in on Sunday.
What’s next?
Both sides will host HFX Wanderers in their next league action as Ottawa plays their long anticipated home opener at TD Place on Saturday, August 14th (3 pm ET), while Forge gets a bit of a break from CPL action with a trip to El Salvador for Concacaf league fixtures on the schedule. They’ll play Halifax on August 22 back at Tim Hortons Field (4 pm ET). Watch all matches live on OneSoccer.
Match Analysis: Forge FC 2-0 Atlético Ottawa – Canadian Premier League - Canadian Premier League
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