After a long offseason, Hamilton Stadium was buzzing with anticipation as Forge FC hosted Cavalry FC for their 2025 Canadian Premier League season home opener on Saturday. The 2024 Canadian Premier League Final rematch ended up being a tightly contested match with Forge coming out on top courtesy of a Mo Babouli headed goal in the 58th minute.
Match Highlights
The game began with all of the pregame festivities that fans have come to expect from a Forge home opener. Once the whistle blew, both sides adopted a measured approach, carefully probing for weaknesses in what quickly developed into a tactical chess match. Despite generating several half-chances, neither side could break through a well-organized defense, sending the teams to halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
The cautious first-half script was quickly abandoned after the break as both sides pushed for the opener. Forge youngster Zayne Bruno, making his competitive debut, announced his presence with a crunching challenge on Jay Herdman that earned him a yellow card early in the second half, signaling the intensifying battle in midfield.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 58th minute through a moment of quality. Forge midfielder Marko Jevremović delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, where Mo Babouli showed tremendous commitment to dive forward and power a header past Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci. The stadium erupted as the Syrian international wheeled away in celebration, having delivered what would prove to be the match-winner.
Bobby Smyrniotis’s men appeared to be cruising toward three points until the 72nd minute, when Zayne Bruno’s debut took a turn for the worse. The young midfielder’s late challenge on Sergio Camargo resulted in a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to ten men and setting up a tense end to the match.
Despite the numerical advantage for the final twenty minutes, Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s Cavalry side couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. Forge goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat stepped up after the red card with a man-of-the-match performance, producing a spectacular set of saves to preserve the clean sheet and clinch the 1-0 win for Forge.Standout Performers
While Babouli will rightfully claim the headlines for his match-winning goal, Koleilat’s heroics in the closing stages proved equally vital to Forge’s success. The goalkeeper’s commanding presence and reflexes under pressure, particularly after Bruno’s dismissal, demonstrated why he’s considered among the league’s elite shot-stoppers.
For Cavalry, star striker Tobias Warschewski again proved to be a thorn in the side of Forge. Warschewski found multiple open looks at goal throughout the game. Had Forge’s Koleiat not been on top of his game, this result likely would have ended in Cavalary’s favor after the red card.
Match Details
Competition: Canadian Premier League
Date: 4/5/2025
Venue: Hamilton Stadium
Kickoff Time: 5:30 PM ET
Lineups
Forge FC: Koleilat; Bruno, Nimick, Achinioti-Jönsson, Jevremovic; Hojabrpour, Bekker, Jensen (Paton, 81′); Choinière (Ampomah, 81′), Wright (Filion, 81′), Babouli (Kane, 81′)
Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Montgomery, Field, Kamdem (Gherasimencov, 77′); Shome (Elva, 77′), Myroniuk (Baldisimo, 65′); Musse, Camargo, Herdman (Wähling, 65′); Warschewski
Goals
58′ – Mo Babouli (Forge FC)
Full Photo Gallery: https://isnsoccer.com/portfolio/forge-fc-v-cavalry-fc/
Photo Credit: Gary Wiggins/ISNSoccer.com
