It was a back-and-forth contest, highlighted by one of the greatest individual performances in CPL history, as Atlético Ottawa knocked Forge out of the CPL playoffs in front of the Hamilton faithful.
Nick FC, take a bow
Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau was nothing short of sensational for his hometown side, as his hat-trick proved the difference against a CPL giant and created a moment Ottawa supporters will relish for years to come. His story from Saturday's match was one of immense quality, resilience, and, ultimately, swift redemption. He scored brilliant goals in the 25th and 84th minutes, putting his team on his back and seemingly carrying them across the finish line. However, he briefly became the villain when he conceded a foolish penalty deep into stoppage time, allowing Dan Nimick to equalize from the spot. The match appeared destined for extra time, but Fleuriau Chateau was quick to redeem himself. A mix-up and a failed clearance from a flustered Forge back line let him pounce on the loose ball and bury it past Dimitry Bertaud, sending his side through in unforgettable fashion.
Following last year's campaign, Atlético had a significant hole to fill heading into the off-season, with club-leading scorer and 2025 MVP Sam Salter departing for GAIS, a mid-table club in Sweden's top division. The reigning CPL champions believed they had found the answer through the signing of 30-year-old Erling Myklebust, but unfortunately things never quite materialized for the Norwegian striker. Bringing in the 24-year-old Ottawa-born Fleuriau Chateau midway through the season, however, has proven to be a masterstroke, particularly given that the forward had been enduring a difficult spell with Galway United in the top division of Irish football. This has proven to be a match made in heaven for both parties — one that could produce many more memorable moments for the club representing Canada's capital. The next opportunity may very well come in a championship match against fellow CPL giant Cavalry FC.
A disappointing result in an otherwise stellar campaign for Forge
This was a heartbreaking result for the Hammers, who appeared to have rescued the match deep into stoppage time, seemingly forcing extra time. Atlético Ottawa never took their foot off the accelerator, however, stunning the Hamilton-based club in front of their home supporters. Bobby Smyrniotis and his squad will undoubtedly be devastated, but the Forge players should enter the off-season with their heads held high and plenty of belief that they will continue to be the prototypical CPL superclub.
The boys in orange may feel the result could have been different had crucial players such as Lucas Cavallini and Kyle Bekker been healthy, or if some of the decisions from head referee Sebastian Noshinravani — who, in fairness, oversaw a very good match despite all the FVS drama — had gone their way. With stellar performances throughout the campaign from Dimitry Bertaud, Antoine Batisse, and Dan Nimick, all players who will hear their names called at the CPL awards ceremony, either through winning it or being nominated, the future for Forge remains bright, even if there are questions surrounding the composition of next year's squad. At the very least, Forge will look to retain as many of these key players as possible, address one or two gaps within the squad, and continue competing for the highest honours the CPL has to offer.
Standout performances from the match-up
We're not gonna say Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau here for obvious reasons. Aside from him, Kamron Habibullah looked incredibly dangerous down the left flank and was unfortunate not to find himself on the scoresheet. The midfield pairing of Diego Gutiérrez and Manny Aparicio also put together an impressive performance, limiting Forge's ability to build attacking opportunities through the middle while creating chances of their own.
For Forge, young attacker Aghilas Sadek showcased his quality and caused plenty of problems for the opposition. Noah Jensen also delivered some wonderfully incisive passes, serving as the architect behind several of the Hammers' most promising attacking opportunities.
