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HIGHLIGHTS: Bekker’s first-half brace lifts Forge to 2-0 triumph vs. Cavalry
Canadian Premier League

Forge FC have put their slow start firmly behind them, dispatching previously-undefeated Cavalry FC on Thursday night with a trademark 2-0 win to claim their second consecutive triumph, on a night where Kyle Bekker’s MVP pedigree shone bright once again.

Both sides entered the match dealing with injuries — the Cavs’ greatest absence surely Sergio Camargo, while Forge took the field without Tristan Borges or Daniel Krutzen among several others, forced to name a short matchday squad of just 17. With absences in the backline, CPL-U SPORTS Draft pick Garven Metusala got the start at right-back for a second straight contest.

Despite the battered squad, though, Forge didn’t seem to miss a beat in the first half. After buzzing around the Cavs’ end with a few shots, they found the net in just the 13th minute; Kwame Awuah’s cross over a crowd found Bekker in space near the back post, and the captain volleyed it home with a delicate side-footed touch back across goal.

After a period of Cavalry pressure, Forge struck again with a quick break in the 35th minute. Awuah, out on the left touchline in his own half, sent a deep ball ahead for David Choinière to chase, but an attempted clearance by defender Mason Trafford knocked it directly into the path of an oncoming Bekker. The reigning MVP took it forward himself, scoring a rocket into the near top corner from a step inside the box.

Down two goals at halftime, Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. made some drastic changes to try and spark his side; bringing in Ali Musse (for his Cavalry debut) and Richard Luca to replace José Escalante and Joe Di Chiara, he urged his side to get a little higher up the field in wide areas to try and threaten the Forge backline more.

Cavalry did manage to take a stranglehold on possession — 73.5% in the second half, and 65.2% in the match overall — but they couldn’t quite challenge Forge goalkeeper Triston Henry, mustering just two shots on target in the game as a whole (although they had 11 attempts). A handful of dangerous set-piece chances, plus a few graceful dribbles into the box from Richard Luca, asked questions of the Forge defence, but it didn’t break.

Comfortable with soaking up pressure to see the game out, Forge improved to 2-2 on the season and moved up to fourth in the CPL table with six points.

BOX SCORE

Goals

13′ — Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
35′ — Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)

Discipline

25′ — Yellow: Joseph Di Chiara (Cavalry FC)
69′ — Yellow: Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson (Forge FC)
90+1′ — Yellow: Nik Ledgerwood (Cavalry FC)