Forge FC advances to sixth straight CPL final with 1-0 win over Atletico Ottawa

HAMILTON — Malik Owolabi-Belewu scored in the 53rd minute and Forge FC advanced to the Canadian Premier League championship game with a 1-0 win over Atletico Ottawa in the semifinal Saturday.

No. 1 Forge advanced to a sixth straight CPL final, where they'll play second-seeded Cavalry FC next Saturday.

Cavalry advanced to the title game last Sunday with a 1-0 win over Forge in the qualifying semifinal. The final will be played at ATCO Field in Calgary.

Forge's victory helped Cavalry earn an automatic berth in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Forge had already qualified for posting the best regular-season record (15-8-5), finishing two points ahead of Cavalry (12-4-12).

Owolabi-Belewu scored with a header off a corner kick to put Forge ahead at Tim Hortons Field.

Hamilton's Forge is looking for a fifth title — and third straight — in its sixth post-season appearance. Forge won the title in 2019, '20, '22 and '23 and was runner-up in 2021.

Last Sunday's loss to Cavalry was just Forge's second defeat in 14 career playoff games (10-2-2).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press