Forge FC Hamilton advance to the Semi-Finals after 3-2 win on kicks

Forge FC Hamilton have advanced to the Semi-Finals of the 2023 Canadian Championship after a 3-2 win on kicks from the penalty mark. Forge FC Hamilton drew 1:1 at home with Atlético Ottawa before they scored on three of their six attempts to beat the away side on kicks. In regulation time, captain Kyle Bekker scored for Hamilton before Oliver Bassett equalised for Ottawa. Hamilton goalkeeper Triston Henry, who stopped two Ottawa kicks, earned Performance of the Match honours.

Forge FC Hamilton will face 2021 winners CF Montréal in the 2023 Semi-Finals in late May. It marks the third year in a row that Forge FC Hamilton and CF Montréal will meet in the Canadian Championship, also the second time that the two sides will meet in the Semi-Finals. CF Montréal previously eliminated Forge FC in the 2021 Semi-Finals and 2022 Quarter-Finals.

Through six competitive matches this year in the Canadian Premier League and Canadian Championship, Forge FC Hamilton remain undefeated with three wins and three draws since 15 April.

Kicks from the penalty mark lasted six rounds before Hamilton’s Aboubacar Sissoko beat Ottawa goalkeeper Sean Melvin for the 3-2 win. Noah Jensen and Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson also hit the target while Melvin made one save. For Ottawa, Gianni dos Santos and Luke Singh both hit the target while Hamilton goalkeeper Triston Henry made two saves. Both teams hit the post once and missed the target completely on another attempt.

Henry also made a couple of big saves in each half while Bekker scored the nicest goal from a tight angle in the 76th minute to give Hamilton the 1-0 lead. Bassett, the 2022 CPL Player of the Year, scored the equaliser on a penalty in the 87th minute.

On the Bekker goal, the second of his career in the competition, he took an Achinioti-Jönsson pass off his chest, took another touch towards goal on the left side, and fired from a tight angle to beat the goalkeeper for the opening goal.