✍️ In this column, each week Ivan Sørensen will take you through the current standings and give you a heads up on what the games of the next week might mean for the season.
Week 3 is behind us
Three weeks in, it’s starting to feel like a real reason, you know? Everyone has a couple of games under their belts, and we are starting to see some storylines begin to emerge.
It ended up being a bit of a low-scoring match week overall, with six goals across four games. Four of those came from the Halifax-Pacific clash, which ended in a 2-2 draw as Pacific fought through an equalizer in the last moments of the match.
Forge and Cavalry met in a close-fought contest that did not produce any goals. A rather peculiar game with Cavalry sitting on two-thirds of possession while Forge managed 15 shots on goal. The game also produced four cards (including a red) and a combined 29 fouls, so it was certainly a scrap.
In Montreal, FC Supra found their hopes dashed after a header from Tyr Walker gained Atlético Ottawa a 1-0 win in stoppage time, while Vancouver FC spent an entire match trying to come back from a 6th-minute goal by Bitar, culminating in Inter Toronto winning by a single goal. 14 shots with 6 on target and nothing seemed to stick for the Eagles.
Standings
So, what do you think so far? Vancouver has yet to produce a result, but their performance on the pitch has been commendable. Question of time, or are there still roster issues that have not been solved?
Pacific finds itself in a peculiar position, having scored as many goals as Cavalry but with just a single point to show for it. They’ve also conceded a league-high seven goals so far. In high-stakes football, margins are everything, and so far, they’ve come up just short.
Supra and Ottawa both sit on three points, but the context behind them feels very different. Supra were always expected to need time to find their footing, and just two games in, there are already signs of a fairly balanced squad beginning to take shape.
Ottawa’s situation is less convincing. While the late win provides a clear morale boost, it’s not quite the type of performance many would have expected. Still, a result like that can shift momentum, and they now have some wind in their sails.
Inter Toronto’s four points from two matches are a solid foundation. Conceding just twice will be particularly encouraging, and with attackers like Altobelli and Bitar looking sharp early on, there’s a sense that they can build on this start.
Halifax, sitting on five points in third, remains unbeaten, though the two draws likely aren’t what Sartini had in mind. Still, they’ve shown they can compete with anyone; the concern lies in a defence that has already conceded the third-most goals in the league.
At the top, Cavalry and Forge are level on seven points, with the Calgary side holding first place. It’s a good moment to recall the CPL’s tie-breaker rules: total wins come first, followed by head-to-head results, then goal difference, and goals scored, with further criteria if needed.
Forge’s approach has been clear: control and defensive solidity, yet to concede a goal this season. Cavalry and Halifax, meanwhile, have shown more attacking output. It sets up an early contrast in styles: cautious consistency versus higher-risk attacking play, and the coming weeks should reveal which approach proves more sustainable.
What comes next?
This weekend brings a full slate across the league, with something to watch every day.
Friday kicks things off in Montréal, where Supra hosts Halifax at CEPSUM Stadium. It’s an early opportunity for both sides to further define their identities, with Supra continuing to establish itself and the Wanderers looking to tighten things up defensively.
Saturday sees Inter Toronto travel west to face Cavalry in Calgary, a significant early test for a Toronto side that has started well. Facing one of the league’s top teams on the road should give a clearer picture of where they truly stand.
Sunday features Vancouver FC heading to Ontario to take on Atlético Ottawa. The reigning champions are still trying to find consistency, while the Eagles' aggressive approach suggests this one could be tense and tightly contested.
The weekend wraps up with Forge visiting Pacific. It might be the late game, but it carries real weight: if Pacific wants to prove they’re contenders this season, this is exactly the kind of matchup where they need to show it.
