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Brian Wright scored from the penalty spot, and Ben Paton added a second goal to lead Forge FC to a 2-0 victory over reigning Canadian Premier League champions Atletico Ottawa in Saturday’s season opener in Hamilton, Ontario.
The 31-year-old Toronto native converted the penalty kick to the right of goalkeeper Tristan Crampton, who had fouled Wright early in the first half to concede the spot-kick.
The game paused for over five minutes immediately after the foul as Atletico Ottawa opted to challenge the penalty decision. This marked the first-ever Football Video Support (FVS) challenge in CPL history, issued by Atletico Ottawa’s manager Diego Mejia.
Under the updated Canadian system, head coaches have two challenges per match to contest game-changing calls, with referees reviewing appeals via video assistance. Officials analyzed two potential offsides, a possible foul during the buildup, and the collision between the goalkeeper and striker that resulted in the penalty. Ottawa’s challenge was ultimately dismissed.
Atletico Ottawa struggled to generate offensive chances against the four-time CPL champions. The visitors did not register a single shot in the first half despite controlling 66 percent of possession at halftime.
Forge doubled their lead in the 68th minute when a corner kick bounced amid a cluster of players in the Ottawa box. Midfielder Paton volleyed the ball from close range to seal the win.
Crampton faced additional shots after Paton’s goal, but Forge held on to win 2-0. The match was a complete display from Forge, who took 10 shots, four on target, and created three big chances, while Ottawa recorded none in those categories.
Atletico Ottawa will next face Cavalry FC on April 12 in Calgary, a rematch of the 2025 CPL Final. Forge FC’s next league fixture is also set for April 12 against Vancouver FC.
This season, the CPL introduced a new “daylight” offside rule designed to speed up play and encourage attacking football. The rule defines an attacker as onside if any part of the body that can score is level with or behind the second-to-last defender. An offside offense is only called when there is visible space—“daylight”—between the attacker and defender.
“At this point, I see this as an opportunity to grow as a coach. It’s going to give me more tools for the future,” Ottawa head coach Diego Mejía said.
The daylight offside rule is a global initiative promoted by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football development. Wenger described Canada’s adoption of the rule as “an important pilot.”
Saturday’s match featured the first application of the daylight rule in CPL, including the video review triggered by the penalty challenge. A later offside decision using the new interpretation occurred without disrupting the game’s flow.
Video assistance itself is also a new addition to the CPL, debuting on Saturday with the Football Video Support (FVS) system—a lighter version of VAR used by FIFA. Some analysts say officials will need time to adjust to both the revised offside rule and the new technology.
Canada’s top-flight league is providing FIFA a valuable professional testing ground, while European leagues have yet to adopt these changes.
Critics worry the change may cause defenders, especially centre backs, to play more cautiously. Others believe it may open up midfield space as defenders might opt to hold deeper defensive lines.