Pacific FC beat defending champs Forge FC to claim 1st Canadian Premier League title
There's a new Canadian Premier League champion.
Victoria's Pacific FC knocked off defending champions Forge FC of Hamilton 1-0 in the CPL final Sunday for their first league title.
Alessandro Hojabrpour scored the game's only goal in the 59th minute for the visitors on a chilly late afternoon at Tim Hortons Field.
The goal came off a set piece taken near the corner flag. Gianni Dos Santos sent the free kick into the box, and Hojabrpour made a darting run to the near post and headed the ball past goalkeeper Triston Henry into the top corner of the net.
The midfielder was an unlikely hero, having scored just twice in 26 appearances during the regular season. But his go-ahead header proved to be the difference.
Pacific came close to doubling their lead minutes later when Josh Heard's shot from the edge of the penalty box ricocheted off the crossbar.
The breakthrough for the Victoria-based club came despite Forge seeing much more of the ball, especially in the first half. The home side had 73 per cent possession in the first 45 minutes, and 70 per cent overall.
But Forge could not do much with the ball, managing just two shots on target - both from captain Kyle Bekker. Forge led 17-6 in total shots. Corner kicks were 10-2 in favour of Hamilton.
Pacific 'keeper Callum Irving made the stops when needed to earn a two-save clean sheet. Henry conceded one goal on two shots.
Forge FC was forced to relinquish their hold on the North Star Shield - the trophy awarded to the winner of the CPL playoffs - after claiming the title in 2019 and 2020.
Pacific, which finished third in the regular season standings with a 13-9-6 record, reached the CPL final by defeating Cavalry FC 2-1 in the semifinal.
Hamilton's Forge dispatched York United FC 3-1 in the other semifinal. Forge topped the regular season table with a 16-10-2 record.
The teams met three times during the regular season, with Forge winning all three.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
LGBTQ2S+ rallies to be held across Canada, billed as largest since marriage equality
Organizations across the country are gearing up for what they describe as the largest LGBTQ2S+ mobilization since the push for marriage equality.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.