The Toronto FC faced a tough challenge in their first leg of the Canadian Championship semi-final against Forge FC in Hamilton on Wednesday night. Despite their valiant efforts, the Reds suffered a 2-1 loss, leaving them with work to do in the second leg.
Coach John Herdman made several key adjustments to his starting lineup, replacing several players from the previous game against the Columbus Crew. This included bringing in Luka Gavran, Aimé Mabika, Kobe Franklin, Deybi Flores, and the star striker Lorenzo Insigne.
The Early Goals
The game started with Toronto FC looking dangerous. In the early stages, Insigne had a golden opportunity to open the scoring, but his powerful shot narrowly missed the target. However, Forge FC quickly took control of the match, scoring two quick goals against the run of play. In the 11th minute, Béni Badibanga unleashed a long-range shot from his own half that caught the Toronto FC defense off guard. Just three minutes later, David Choinière’s cross was expertly finished by Kwasi Poku, putting Forge FC firmly in the lead.
A Second-Half Push
The Reds were determined to find a way back into the game. At halftime, they made changes, bringing on Matty Longstaff and Prince Owusu to boost their attack. The second half saw Toronto FC applying more pressure and creating a number of chances. They came close to scoring through Owusu’s header, but Forge FC goalkeeper Christopher Kalongo made a crucial save.
A Late Goal and a Comeback Bid
The Reds finally found the back of the net in the 88th minute when Owusu converted a rebound after Kalongo initially saved a shot from Deandre Kerr. The goal gave Toronto FC hope, and they continued to push for an equalizer. Insigne came close with a curling shot that forced Kalongo into a diving save. Unfortunately, their efforts fell short, and Forge FC held onto their one-goal advantage.
Looking Ahead
The Reds have a lot to ponder after this tough defeat. They will have a chance to even the score when they host Forge FC at BMO Field in the second leg on August 27. Before then, they have a critical MLS regular season game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. They will need to regroup and come out firing on all cylinders if they are to turn the tide in the Canadian Championship and continue their strong performance in the MLS.
