August 22, 2024...Preview: York United FC vs. Forge FC - 2024 Match #76 (from canpl.ca)

PREVIEW: York United FC vs. Forge FC — 2024 Match #76
2024-08-22
by Charlie O’Connor-Clarke, Digital Content Editor (@charliejclarke)

2024 CPL Regular Season — Match #76
York United FC vs. Forge FC
August 23, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET
York Lions Stadium

Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 //

The most significant 905 Derby in years goes down at York Lions Stadium this Friday, as York United and Forge FC meet in a heavyweight clash that could reshape the title race in the 2024 Canadian Premier League regular season.

Both sides have been among the best in the league in the past two months, which is why each of them have serious ambitions of winning the CPL Shield.

Forge come in with the upper hand, currently sitting atop the table with 34 points, but just a two-point cushion above second place. They’re on a roll right now, having won their last three games in a row, including a 2-1 result at Vancouver FC last Sunday where Matteo Schiavoni’s first professional goal bagged all three points for the Hamilton club in the 89th minute.

Just three points behind the Hammers, however, are York, who have been on a rapidly upward trajectory since Benjamín Mora took over as head coach in June. The Nine Stripes sit in third place, but would draw level on points with a win on Friday (although Forge still control the head-to-head tiebreaker; more on that later).

York suffered their first home defeat under Mora last weekend, as Cavalry FC got the best of them in a 2-1 decision. Still, York are 6-1-2 at York Lions Stadium this year, making it one of the most formidable places to play in the CPL in 2024.

That said, it didn’t seem that way in April, last time Forge visited. On that day, York’s home opener, the visitors were convincing winners, as a goal just before halftime plus two quick ones in the second half led Forge to a 3-0 win. The story was similar in the next two meetings between the sides this year; Forge won 3-1 in a Canadian Championship tie at Tim Hortons Field, then beat York 3-0 again in Hamilton a few weeks later.

Forge have, therefore, very much had York’s number this year. All of those games happened before Mora took over, however, so perhaps things will be different for a newly confident York side.

Both teams expect to have most of their key players available to call on, although a couple of absences will loom. For York, defender Oswaldo León will be suspended after he was sent off in last Friday’s match for a second yellow card, meaning they’ll need to adjust at the back. Forge, meanwhile, officially begin the post-Kwasi Poku era; their leading scorer was officially sold to Belgian side RWD Molenbeek on Wednesday, so the Hammers will be looking for goals from other sources.

This derby battle is one that’s been a little lopsided recently, but this week’s matchup could be the most intense meeting between York and Forge we’ve seen in years — certainly, the most intense since the two sides met in the CPL playoffs in 2021.

All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

How do York respond to Cavalry loss: York found their momentum hindered somewhat in last Friday’s loss to Cavalry, but the way they respond to that defeat in this, their biggest test. yet, will teach us a lot about the club’s current mental fortitude. In 11 games under Benjamín Mora so far, they’ve only failed to win five times. Each of the four previous times before this, they’ve followed up a draw or loss with a win in the next game. York’s demonstrated ability to bounce back, combined with a desire for redemption against Forge specifically after losing to them three times already this year.

Hamilton heating up in the middle: With Kwasi Poku now out of the picture for Forge, they’re going to need somebody else to step up in the centre-forward position. In the past two games, with Poku held out of the lineup during transfer negotiations, Jordan Hamilton has been Bobby Smyrniotis’ go-to option, and the veteran striker has rewarded his coach. Hamilton scored against Halifax in a lively all-around performance, and was good again in Vancouver with an assist as he was named to the Gatorade Team of the Week for the first time this year. If Hamilton is finding a rhythm and can offer consistent production from the number nine spot — or, for that matter, if Terran Campbell picks up some momentum once he too starts getting some consistent minutes — Forge will be able to move on from Poku’s departure without skipping a beat.

Changes expected to York defence: A very late second yellow card to Oswaldo León last Friday night didn’t necessarily have a huge impact on that game, but it had immediate repercussions for this one. The Mexican centre-back had started the last six games for York, as Mora has preferred a three-man backline with León alongside Frank Sturing and Noah Abatneh. Now, the question will be how Mora might adjust, and whether he’ll preserve the back three or switch to a four. One option he’s used a few times already has been pushing Elijah Adekugbe from midfield into the left side of the back line, which might be the most logical choice — especially if Santiago Márquez is ready for a first start in defensive midfield. He could also put Orlando Botello back into the side at left-back if it’s to be a back four, perhaps giving Jorge Guzmán more freedom to get forward on the left with a traditional fullback behind him.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

York United FC: Vincensini; Ferrari, Abatneh, Sturing, Botello; Cordóva, Adekugbe, Martínez, Guzmán; Wright, Babouli

Forge FC: Koleilat; Duncan, Achinioti-Jönsson, Owalabi-Belewu, Parra; Hojabrpour, Bekker; Choinière, Borges, Badibanga; Hamilton

ALL-TIME SERIES
York United FC wins: 7 || Forge FC wins:15 || Draws: 2

Last meeting:
June 1, 2024 — Forge FC 3-0 York United

KEY QUOTES
“There’s some similarities we see in what we’ve played and who [York] are today, but there’s also some differences. Mostly you look at their form lately and what they’ve been doing in those games that’s given them success in this last couple of months — their team changing formation, just a bit of a different defensive structure, and they have a couple players who are doing very well at the moment especially in attack with guys like Brian Wright and Mo Babouli.” — Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis

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