Forge defeated Atlético Ottawa in dominating fashion to start the Canadian Premier League season, with Football Video Support becoming a key talking point during the match.
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Atlético Ottawa struggle to find any offensive footing
The 2026 opener was one to forget for Atlético Ottawa. Forge’s suffocating defensive strategy proved relentless, pressing aggressively and cutting off passing lanes whenever Ottawa attempted to move the ball forward.
The result was a staggering stat line: Ottawa failed to register a single shot, on or off target, across the entire match. For a side led by Diego Mejía and coming off a championship campaign, the performance leaves significant questions about their attacking cohesion.
While it’s far too early to draw sweeping conclusions, this showing highlights clear areas for improvement if Ottawa are to position themselves as serious playoff contenders once again.
Anthony Aromatario delivers a statement performance
Forge's Anthony Aromatario carried his strong continental form into league play with a commanding display in midfield.
The 22-year-old was a constant disruptor, combining intelligent positioning with overwhelming tenacity when winning the ball back. His presence directly contributed to yellow-card bookings for experienced players like Manny Aparicio and Juan Castro.
Beyond the defensive work, Aromatario dictated tempo effectively, showcasing composure and vision as a passer while in possession. His performance earned him the man of the match award. If Aromatario can maintain this trajectory and run of form, interest from clubs beyond the CPL, both in North America and abroad, will likely intensify.
Football Video Support (FVS) makes a mixed first impression
The introduction of Football Video Support (FVS) added an extra layer of drama to the season opener.
Three key moments were reviewed: a penalty awarded to Forge, a potential handball in Ottawa’s favour, and a penalty not awarded. Following the review, all three decisions stood against Ottawa, with Brian Wright converting from the spot in the first.
While the system functioned as intended in terms of decision-making, the extended delays drew some criticism. The stoppages disrupted the rhythm of the match, with the first check taking just over five minutes.
Given this was its debut, it’s too early for firm judgments, but the rollout can fairly be described as uneven, with clear room for refinement as the 2026 Canadian Premier League season continues.
Forge FC cruise, but finishing leaves plenty to be desired
Despite a comfortable 2–0 victory, Forge may feel the scoreline could have been so much more.
The Hammers created multiple high-quality chances against debutant goalkeeper Tristan Crampton, but lacked the clinical finishing ability in the final third. It is early, and offseason rust likely played a big factor, but head coach Bobby Smyrniotis will likely view this as an area for improvement moving forward. As mentioned earlier, Forge were nearly flawless defensively, limiting Ottawa to zero attempts and ensuring a quiet night for Dimitry Bertaud. As Bobby said, the goalkeeper "did nothing".
If Forge can sharpen their finishing while maintaining this defensive intensity, they will once again look like one of the league's most complete and dominant sides.
