Forge FC made history at Stade Saputo in Montreal on Wednesday night as Dimitry Bertaud’s heroics in the penalty shootout secured their victory over CF Montreal in the Canadian Championship final. The Hamilton-based team clinched a 4-2 win in the shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation and extra time.
Manjrekar James sealed the triumph with the decisive goal, leading Forge to their first Canadian Championship title, making them the inaugural Canadian Premier League team to achieve this feat. Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis emphasized the significance of the victory for the club, highlighting the team’s commitment to pursuing trophies.
Antoine Batisse and Daniel Rios scored the goals during the regular time for Forge and Montreal, respectively. In the shootout, Tristan Borges, Ben Paton, and Daniel Nimick found the net for Forge, while Matty Longstaff and Daniel Perreira scored for Montreal.
This victory marked the third consecutive year that Forge eliminated Montreal from the competition. Despite Montreal’s offensive pressure, Forge’s defense held strong, leading to key moments in the match. Noah Jensen’s corner kick set up Batisse’s goal against the run of play, giving Forge a surprise lead.
Montreal equalized early in the second half, but a red card to Brayan Vera hampered their momentum. Both teams played cautiously before Forge gained control in extra time, resulting in a hard-fought victory. The match saw controversy surrounding Montreal’s delayed substitutions of Alexis Sanchez and Samsy Keita.
Forge FC’s win secured them a spot in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup, further solidifying their status as a rising force in Canadian soccer.
