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Forge FC maintains dominance over Pacific FC

FORGE FC 2 PACIFIC FC 1 To say Pacific FC has a problem with Forge FC could be the understatement of the Canadian Premier League. PFC has lost two games this season and both have been against the two-time defending CPL champion from Hamilton, Ont.
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Pacific FC head coach Pa-Modou Kah: “The referee was a whistle-happy guy. He couldn’t keep the whistle out of his mouth. I don’t care if they fine me.” TRISHA LEES, PACIFIC FC

FORGE FC 2
PACIFIC FC 1

To say Pacific FC has a problem with Forge FC could be the understatement of the Canadian Premier League. PFC has lost two games this season and both have been against the two-time defending CPL champion from Hamilton, Ont.

Forge FC (4-3) added another chapter to the rivalry with a 2-1 victory Saturday night in the Winnipeg bubble.

That follows Forge’s 3-0 win over PFC (3-2-2) on July 4. The latest result ended PFC goalkeeper Callum Irving’s run of three consecutive clean sheets.

Forge FC began the season with two losses, but nobody expected the club, which reached the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF League playdowns last year, to stay down for long. The Hamiltonians have shown of late why they were knocking on the door of the CONCACAF Champions League.

The game was decided on two first-half Forge FC goals. Paolo Sabak converted a penalty at 22 minutes after PFC defender Jordan Haynes mistimed a bouncing ball in the box and it hit his upper arm with nobody around him. PFC coach Pa-Modou Kah was irate about the call.

“It was a cheap penalty to give,” Kah said.

“The referee was a whistle-happy guy. He couldn’t keep the whistle out of his mouth. I don’t care if they fine me.”

Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker showed the form that earned him 18 caps for Canada by scoring on a rocket launch from distance at 30 minutes.

Striker Josh Heard took a lengthy pass and buried the ball to pull PFC to within one at 77 minutes, but the tally by the hometown Victoria product, and former University of Washington Huskies star, wasn’t enough.

“It’s hard closing a two-goal gap,” said Heard, an MLS draft pick of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

“They had two chances and converted them.”

Kah said his squad showed fight despite falling behind.

PFC concludes its eight-game stand in the Winnipeg bubble on Wednesday against Atletico Ottawa (2-4). Pacific FC will then meet Cavalry FC of Calgary on July 30 at Starlight Stadium as the teams return to their home markets for the first time since the 2019 season.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com