Forge FC, on an uncharacteristically long break between games, might find a different Atl\u00e9tico side waiting for them in Ottawa next Sunday (2 p.m., OneSoccer, CBC Gem) than the one that opened the 2026 campaign in Hamilton.<\/p>\n
In that rematch of 2025 CPL hardware hoisters\u2014the Hammers as regular season winners and champions; Atleti as playoff champions\u2014Forge dominated the real play for an in-control 2-0 win<\/a> despite the restructuring Ottawa side\u2019s misleading advantage in ball possession (65 per cent) and passes (85 per cent). A penalty kick awarded to Brian Wright, which was reviewed via FVS ad nauseum, and an in-tight strike from midfielder\/back Ben Paton in the 67th minute made the scoreboard resemble what the naked eye was seeing.<\/p>\n That was the first of three Atl\u00e9tico losses\u2014all on the road\u2014in the season\u2019s opening five games, to go along with a sole win (over Supra) and a draw as Ottawa played four of those five on the road while their stadium is being renovated and new, high-end turf was being installed.<\/p>\n Ottawa harvested only four of its possible first 15 points and had been outscored 10-4 as head coach Diego Mejia was breaking in some young defenders and the team was adjusting to a number of lineup changes.<\/p>\n But fortunes have changed in the past two weeks as Atl\u00e9tico went into Toronto and eliminated MLS side TFC 3-1 in the sudden-death first round of the Canadian Championship, then edged HFX Wanderers 1-0 in the Nation\u2019s Capital Sunday behind Jonathan Villal\u2019s goalscorer\u2019s goal.<\/p>\n Forge, meanwhile, last played six days ago in the School Day Match<\/a> a 1-0 win over Supra du Qu\u00e9bec that gave keeper Dimitry Bertaud<\/a> his fifth shutout in six games.\u00a0<\/p>\n The league record is 13, set last year by Forge\u2019s Jassem Koleilat. Bertaud made his CPL debut against Ottawa on opening day and his club has allowed just one goal all year: on an iffy penalty kick in Halifax. They haven\u2019t allowed a goal from the run of play, and over their last three games have found some scoring touch with eight goals, seven of them against the Wanderers in league and Canadian Championship play.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Hamilton leads the CPL with 16 points, two beyond second-place Cavalry FC, five up on Inter Toronto and nine up on fourth-place Ottawa.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re meshing a little bit more,\u201d Paton said of Atleti. \u201cThey brought in a lot of players this year and it probably took them a little time to adapt.<\/p>\n \u201cIt should be a good game. We know they have a lot of quality, plus they have good home support too. And with the new turf as well, that takes a bit to adjust to for them. I\u2019m looking forward to the game on Sunday. Because we had our game back on Wednesday it seems like we\u2019ve been waiting a while to play.\u201d<\/p>\n