Vancouver FC picked up their first-ever victory at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday, during an entertaining 2-1 win over Forge FC.
The Eagles were lifted by first-half goals from Rocco Romeo, as well as an Olimpico from Vasco Fry. Forge made things interesting in the second half as Kyle Bekker opened his 2024 account, but were unable to complete the comeback despite the valiant effort.
Renan Garcia forced an early save out of Chris Kalongo from a well-worked free-kick routine inside the opening three minutes. Fry crossed in the rebound and Moses Dyer headed the ball into the path of Romeo, who tapped it past Kalongo and into the back of the net from close range. It was the first goal that Vancouver had ever scored at Tim Hortons Field and came less than three minutes into the match.
Forge responded well, however, forcing a number of good saves out of Callum Irving as they threatened the Vancouver net. In the 18th minute, Amadou Koné saw his shot from close range stopped by Irving, before Bekker’s rebound was blocked. Forge managed eight shot attempts in total during the first half, but only one of them made it on target.
In the 29th minute, however, Vancouver FC stunned the home crowd again. In a type of goal that has almost become commonplace at Tim Hortons Field, Fry curled in an Olimpico that went off both posts and into the back of the net directly from his corner kick.
It was the first time an opponent has scored twice or more at Tim Hortons Field this season, and since August 12, 2023 when Forge played York United to a 3-3 draw. The score remained 2-0 for Vancouver FC when the half-time whistle sounded.
Forge, however, got one back early in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Alessandro Hojabrpour sent a lovely ball into the box to Tristan Borges down the right. Borges squared for Bekker, and the Forge captain tapped home his first of the season. It was Borges’ league-leading fourth assist.
Vancouver nearly re-established their two-goal lead in the 69th minute, with substitute Elage Bah picking off an ill-advised defensive cross and then playing the ball through to Fry. His shot, however, was stopped brilliantly by Kalongo.
Forge then thought they had equalized in the 72nd minute, as Tristan Borges got in behind and put the ball past Irving. However, he was judged to be offside. The hosts then got away with another poor bit of defensive play as Kalongo gave the ball away to Gabriel Bitar right in front of his own net, only for Alex Achinioti-Jönsson to spare his blushes with a couple of crucial defensive interventions.
The hosts continued to press late, looking for what would have been just the latest in a series of big late goals at home. Forge came incredibly close to equalizing, first when Noah Jensen sent a shot just wide of the net from inside the box in the 89th minute, and then on a stoppage-time effort from Béni Badibanga.
The result was Vancouver’s first road victory of the season, and their third of the campaign already as they continue a strong start to 2024. For Forge, they will have to regroup ahead of a crucial Canadian Championship second-leg clash with CF Montréal on Wednesday.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Forge FC: Kalongo; Parra, Metusala, Achinioti-Jönsson, Duncan (Samuel 72′); Hojabrpour, Bekker (Jensen 72′), Borges; Badibanga, Poku (Tavernier 79′), Kone (Choinière 66′)
Vancouver FC: Irving; Chung, Enyou, Romeo, Gee; Cantave (Verhoven 76′), Fry, Garcia, Bitar (Fisk 76′); Díaz (Bah 56′ (Cameron 90′)), Dyer (Kibato 90′)
Goals
3′ — Rocco Romeo (Vancouver FC)
29′ — Vasco Fry (Vancouver FC)
53′ — Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
Discipline
2′ — Yellow: Garven Metusala (Forge FC)
17′ — Yellow: Moses Dyer (Vancouver FC)
41′ — Yellow: Alessandro Hojabrour (Forge FC)
57′ — Yellow: Renan Garcia (Vancouver FC)
61′ — Yellow: Tristan Borges (Forge FC)
71′ — Yellow: Rocco Romeo (Vancouver FC)
83′ — Yellow: Elage Bah (Vancouver FC)
90+5′ — Yellow: James Cameron (Vancouver FC)