FC Edmonton lose 2-0 to Forge FC despite positive performance, with match photos and highlights

FC Edmonton lost 2-0 to Forge FC in their first match of the Canadian Premier League’s Island Games in P.E.I. Sunday.

But the Eddies put up a strong fight against the 2019 CPL champions and FC Edmonton head coach Jeff Paulus was pleased with his club’s overall performance.

“It was just an unlucky break for us,” said Paulus after the match. “Looking back, it was a wonder-goal and a bit of fortune to beat us there today. We can live with it.”

Nervous start FC Edmonton

It was a nervous start for Edmonton’s club, who found themselves under early pressure. But the Eddies gathered themselves and earned three corners in the first 10 minutes and seemed to have control of the game.

However, a terrific long-range strike by Kwame Awuah in the 11^th minute gave Hamilton’s Forge FC the lead they would never give up.

Again, FC Edmonton brought themselves back into the match. And there were several opportunities to score in the first half – the closest being an Amer Didic header that glanced off the post and a late chance to score from inside the eighteen-yard box by Keven Aleman.

The Eddies appeared to have control and were pressing offensively with the shots being 7-2 for FC Edmonton. While Forge FC only managed one corner and two crosses in the first half.

Didic suffers injury

In the second half, Eddies’ star defender Amer Didic went down with a possible ankle injury and was eventually substituted. Paulus later said Didic’s injury will be closely monitored over the next 24 hours.

Forge FC seemed to take advantage of both the Canadian international’s absence and that FC Edmonton was playing from behind, forcing Edmonton out of its defensive formation. It resulted in more opportunities for Forge FC in the second half exemplified by the shot, cross, and corner tallies of 5, 13, and 6, respectively.

But FC Edmonton kept the open play scoring opportunities of Forge FC to a minimum and created considerable offense with only having 37.5 percent of the possession.

But a Kareem Moses own goal in the 92^nd minute made the score harsher than the Eddies performance deserved.

The Eddies will need to move on quickly as the road will not get any easier. Their next opponent is local rivals and 2019 Spring and Fall Champions Cavalry FC Thursday.