The Cavalry–Forge rivalry refers to a soccer rivalry which has grown between Calgary-based Cavalry FC and Forge FC of Hamilton, Ontario. The two clubs began play in 2019 and faced each other nine times that season with all matches being decided by one goal or fewer. The clubs were the top teams in the inaugural Canadian Premier League season and the natural rivalry that developed between them has been described as the best in the league.
History 2019
The first match between Cavalry and Forge was played on May 12, 2019, at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Cavalry won the game 2–1 with the winning goal from Nico Pasquotti coming late in stoppage time. The following month, the two clubs met in the second round of the 2019 Canadian Championship. Once again, Cavalry scored late into stoppage time in Hamilton; this time on a penalty kick to equalize after Forge goalkeeper Quillan Roberts was sent off for a foul. The drama continued after the match when a scrum broke out between the two teams with opposing players exchanging pushes and shouts.
The day after the match, Cavalry player Jordan Brown accused Forge FC coach Peter Reynders of using racist remarks during the post game scrum, a claim which was supported by his teammates Elijah Adekugbe and Nathan Mavila. Following an investigation, Reynders was initially found to be guilty by the Canadian Soccer Association and suspended 45 days for the incident, however the decision was overturned on appeal. In June 2020, Forge players defended Reynders publicly. The case was referred to a third party, and Reynders was cleared of the charges in August 2020. The match and subsequent allegations are considered to be the first significant moment of the rivalry. In the return leg of the Canadian Championship tie at ATCO Field, Cavalry won 2–1 to advance in the competition.
On June 22, 2019, Forge and Cavalry faced off for the fourth time that season and the third time in 19 days. With a draw, Cavalry could clinch the top record in the 10-game spring season while Forge needed a win to remain in contention. Forge won the game 1–0 on an early goal from captain Kyle Bekker, ending Cavalry's run of seven straight wins to start the season. Cavalry won their following game on June 26 to claim the spring title and a spot in the 2019 Canadian Premier League Finals. Forge secured their place in the finals with a win on September 28.
Forge hosted the first leg of the 2019 CPL Finals on October 26 in Hamilton. In the 37th minute, Cavalry defender Joel Waterman handled the ball in his own penalty area while sliding to prevent a scoring chance. Waterman was sent off and Forge was awarded a penalty kick. League-leading scorer Tristan Borges took the penalty kick but it was stopped by Marco Carducci to keep the game scoreless. Late into first half stoppage time, Borges scored the game's only goal, beating Carducci with a left-footed strike to give Forge the lead going into halftime. In the 69th minute, a challenge between Borges and Jay Wheeldon of Cavalry sent both players to the ground. As a result of the play, Borges was shown a red card and both teams finished the match with 10 players. After the match, Cavalry and Forge appealed their respective red cards to the Canadian Soccer Association but only the suspension to Forge's Tristan Borges was overturned, allowing him to play in the second leg. During the second leg in Calgary on November 2, a total of seven yellow cards were issued. Forge scored the game's only goal late in stoppage time and won the series 2–0 on aggregate, becoming the first-ever champions of the Canadian Premier League.
In all, Forge and Cavalry played nine matches against each other in 2019 across all competitions with all matches decided by one goal or fewer.
2020–2022 The season opener of the 2020 CPL Island Games was chosen to be a rematch of the 2019 final. The match ended a 2–2 draw with Cavalry equalizing in the 94th minute with a controversial penalty kick. Forge would get their revenge by defeating Cavalry 1–0 in their final group stage match to clinch a spot in the 2020 Canadian Premier League Final while also eliminating Cavalry.
In their fourth and final regular season meeting of 2022, Forge defeated Cavalry in a match that featured three goals and three red cards. The two clubs ended the regular season with identical records (14–5–9), finishing 2nd and 3rd and earning a meeting in the CPL semifinals. Following a 1–1 draw in the first leg, Forge won 3–2 on aggregate to advance to its fourth consecutive CPL Final. In the tie's second leg, Kyle Bekker of Forge and David Norman Jr. of Cavalry were both sent off within five minutes of each other in the first half.
Results
Season Competition Date Home team Result Away team Venue Attendance Recap 2019Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 5,921 Canadian Championship Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 5,174 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,000 Canadian Premier League Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,697 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 6,883 Tied: 2–1–2 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 1,938 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 3,864 Tied: 3–1–3 CPL Finals Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 10,486 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 5,831 2020 Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Alumni Field, Charlottetown 0 CPL group stage Cavalry Forge Alumni Field, Charlottetown 0 2021 Canadian Premier League Cavalry Forge IG Field, Winnipeg 0 Forge Cavalry IG Field, Winnipeg 0 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 2,104 2022 Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 3,688 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 2,989 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 3,945 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 4,992 CPL Playoffs Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 3,179 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 7,133 2023 Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 6,892 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 3,503 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,106 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 6,751 CPL Playoffs Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,385 CPL Final Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 13,925 2024 Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 7,395 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,691 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,569 Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 4,671 CPL Playoffs Forge Cavalry Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton 6,521 CPL Final Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 7,052 2025 Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton 7,963 Forge Cavalry Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton 6,578 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,786 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,763 CPL Playoffs Forge Cavalry Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton 6,125 2026 Canadian Premier League Forge Cavalry Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton 4,178 Forge Cavalry Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton 6,101 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 4,721 Cavalry Forge ATCO Field, Foothills County 5,009
Statistics
CompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsGoals Cavalry Forge Cavalry Forge Canadian Premier League 29 9 10 10 34 32 CPL Playoffs 10 3 6 1 8 11 Canadian Championship 2 1 0 1 3 2 Total matches 41 13 16 12 45 45
League ranking by season 2019202020212022202320242025FinalsFinalSeasonPlayoffsSeasonPlayoffsSeasonPlayoffsSeasonPlayoffsSeasonPlayoffs1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Post-season and cup results + CPL Playoffs Season Round Advanced Score(s) 2019 Finals 2–0 on aggregate 2022 Semi-finals 3–2 on aggregate 2023 First semifinal 2–1 Final 2–1 2024 First semifinal 1–0 Final 2–1 2025 Second semifinal 1–0
+ Canadian Championship Season Round Advanced Score(s) 2019 Second qualifying round 3–2 on aggregate
Records
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club(s) Nationality Goals 1 Kyle Bekker Forge 7 2 Tristan Borges Forge 6 Sergio Camargo Cavalry Ali Musse Cavalry Tobias Warschewski Cavalry 6 David Choinière Forge 5 7 Daan Klomp Cavalry 4 Dominique Malonga Cavalry Joe Mason Cavalry Anthony Novak ForgeCavalry
Clean sheets
Rank Player Club Cleansheets 1 Triston Henry Forge 7 2 Marco Carducci Cavalry 5 3 Dimitry Bertaud Forge 2 4 Tyson Farago Cavalry 1 Jassem Koleilat Forge Quillan Roberts Forge
Discipline
+List of sent off playersPlayerClubDateCompetitionMinuteType Quillan Roberts Forge (H) June 4, 2019 Canadian Championship 90+4' 1–0 1–1 Dominic Samuel Forge (H) October 16, 2019 League 71' 1–0 1–0 Joel Waterman Cavalry (A) October 26, 2019 CPL Finals 37' 0–0 1–0 Tristan Borges Forge (H) 69' 1–0 Kyle Bekker Forge (H) September 10, 2022 League 70' 2–1 2–1 Joseph Di Chiara Cavalry (A) 86' 2–1 Mikaël Cantave Cavalry (A) 90+5' 2–1 Kyle Bekker (2) Forge (H) October 23, 2022 CPL Playoffs 43' 0–0 2–1 David Norman Jr. Cavalry (A) 45+3' 0–0 Khadim Kane Forge (A) June 8, 2024 League 89' 1–0 1–0 Daniel Parra Forge (A) July 21, 2024 82' 1–1 1–1 Zayne Bruno Forge (H) April 5, 2025 League 72' 1–0 1–0 Rezart Rama Forge (H) April 18, 2026 League 56' 0–0 0–0 Rezart Rama (2) Forge (A) August 15, 2026 38' 0–1 2–1 Marko Jevremović Forge (A) 90' 2–1 Tobias Warschewski Cavalry (H) September 19, 2026 90+2' 1–1 1–1
Players who played for both clubs
Forge, then Cavalry Anthony Novak (Forge: 2019–2020, Cavalry: 2021–2022) Harry Paton (Forge: 2025, Cavalry: 2026–present)
See also 905 Derby Cavalry FC–FC Edmonton rivalry Pacific FC–Vancouver FC rivalry Canadian Classique
Notes
References
Sources
Further reading