Canada leaves the World Cup after a best-ever performance, but Canadian football does not sleep. Let’s check in on what everyone got up to in the Canadian Premier League. And everyone has been up to an awful lot!

The games

The end of June saw Halifax welcome Pacific to their home ground for an emphatic 5-2 beatdown involving multiple own goals, a penalty kick, and plenty of other drama.

Canada Day featured two matches to celebrate. Vancouver's Eagles flew high and scored twice against Forge FC, though the euphoria was short-lived as Forge rallied in the second half to claim a 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, Halifax looked to repeat their statement win and hand Ottawa a beating of their own. Instead, it ended in a 3-1 victory for Atlético Ottawa, as Ballou Tabla had a few things to say about that.

The seesaw continued on July 4, as a victorious Cavalry kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Ottawa, while Vancouver delivered arguably their best performance of the last two seasons, defeating Inter Toronto 4-0.

Rounding out the excitement was a Forge-Supra showdown, with Forge claiming a 2-1 victory, while Halifax had another go at Pacific, this time earning a much more subdued 2-1 win over the Wanderers.

Standings

8th - Pacific (3 points)

Three goals scored across these two games brought no advancement whatsoever. At this point, Pacific is a full 12 points away from playoff contention and eight points clear of not being dead last.

After the Halifax drubbing, the club has now conceded twice as many goals as it has scored. A grim statistic in a grim season. You can point to any number of shortcomings, but if we're being clear-sighted, Pacific can score. They have scored as many goals as Supra and Toronto, after all.

At this point, I don't think anyone believes this season can be saved, but some morale and pride still can.

7th - Supra du Québec (11 points)

Things can change quickly in the CPL, and Supra dropping to seventh was perhaps unexpected, but Forge is a tough opponent. A 2-1 loss is perhaps indicative of a club that remains defensively solid but is missing that key attacking spark needed to reach the top of the table. Still, with the standings as tight as they are, I think Supra's drop is a little deceptive.

6th - Inter Toronto (12 points)

I can't imagine anyone expected Vancouver FC to overtake them, but that's where we are. Still, Toronto is only two points behind a playoff spot, and they have two games in hand compared to most of their opposition. I wouldn't write off Toronto at all; this team has plenty to offer.

5th - Vancouver FC (14 points)

Aside from a single week, this is the best position the team has held in two years, and they got here with some flair, delivering a statement win against Toronto and looking like they might pull off an upset against mighty Forge. As it stands, two of the seven goals Forge have conceded this season came against Vancouver. Are the Eagles going places? I've said for a while that this team is better than its results.

4th - Halifax Wanderers (15 points)

Sartini and his boys have jumped into playoff contention. It is still rather precarious, especially with most teams having games in hand on Halifax, but after a season filled with questions, it is nice to feel like there are finally some answers. However, they need to earn those big results against teams other than Pacific.

3rd - Ottawa (17 points)

Some days you win big, some days you lose big. Some days you stay in third place. The gap to Cavalry is pretty sizeable now, and I don't know if Ottawa is delivering the consistent performances needed to feel completely secure. Still, if you put me on the spot, I'd say Ottawa makes the playoffs and probably finishes third.

2nd - Cavalry (26 points)

Nine points clear of the teams below and five points behind the team above, a second-place finish seems quite likely. The strong form continues, with just a single loss and only five goals conceded. And they now get to test themselves against the mighty Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship.

1st - Forge (31 points)

Who will be the second team to knock the crown off Forge? Vancouver came close, which would have made for an interesting story, but Bobby Smyrniotis locked things down once again. He runs a tight ship over there.

Results are what he's there to deliver, and results are exactly what Forge FC fans continue to get.

Next matches

With Canadian Championship action this week, there are no regular CPL matches until the 16th. See you soon!