Forge FC secured a 2-0 victory over Atletico Ottawa in the Canadian Premier League season opener in Hamilton, Ont. Brian Wright converted a penalty kick, and Ben Paton scored another goal for Forge. The 31-year-old Wright placed his spot-kick past goalkeeper Tristan Crampton after being fouled early in the match, causing a brief delay as Ottawa challenged the penalty call.
In the newly implemented Canadian system, head coaches can challenge two game-changing decisions per match, with video assistance aiding the referee’s review. Ottawa’s challenge on the penalty incident was unsuccessful. Despite holding possession, Ottawa struggled to create scoring opportunities, failing to register a shot in the first half.
Forge extended their lead in the 68th minute when Paton capitalized on a rebound from a corner kick. Despite some late chances for Ottawa, Forge held firm to secure the 2-0 win. Forge displayed dominance in shots, shots on target, and big chances created compared to Ottawa.
The game also featured the testing of a new offside rule in the Canadian league, called the “daylight” offside rule. This rule aims to speed up play and favor attacking play by defining an attacker as onside if any part of their body that can legally score is level with or beyond the second-to-last defender. This rule was well received by coaches and officials, with FIFA’s Arsène Wenger praising the Canadian experience as an important testing ground for the rule.
The Canadian league’s adoption of the daylight offside rule and video assistance provides a platform for professional testing, with FIFA’s lighter Football Video Support model being utilized. Critics and supporters have differing opinions on the potential impact of the rule change, with some highlighting concerns about defensive strategies and midfield dynamics.