With half an hour left and York leading narrowly, both managers turned to their bench for a triple substitution. Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis called on Woobens Pacius, Terran Campbell and Ashtone Morgan to try and spark his attack, while York’s Martin Nash likewise chose to remain aggressive with a trio of attack-minded players in Clément Bayiha, Osaze De Rosario and Max Ferrari.

The move, however, would turn out better for the home side. In the 76th minute, Bekker received the ball near the corner flag and whipped in a pinpoint cross to Campbell, who managed to climb high and get his head on it for an excellent finish, equalizing the match.

Forge came agonizingly close to a winner almost immediately after as a through ball found the foot of Pacius in the six-yard box, but he wasn’t able to tip it goalward.

The spoils, in the end, would be York’s though. Out of almost nowhere, the ball fell to Soumaoro about 40 yards from goal. The midfielder lofted a shot from there that sailed well over traffic and dipped under the bar to win the game for the Nine Stripes.

Charlie O'Connor-Clarke, CanPL.ca

BOX SCORE

Goals

53′ — Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC) (Own Goal)

76′ — Terran Campbell (Forge FC)

90+3’ — Brem Soumaoro (York United)

Discipline

10′ — Yellow: Rezart Rama (Forge FC)

10′ — Yellow: Triston Henry (Forge FC)

25′ — Yellow: Manjrekar James (Forge FC)

68′ — Yellow: Osaze De Rosario (York United)

70′ — Yellow: Lassana Faye (York United)

74′ — Yellow: Austin Ricci (York United)

80′ — Yellow: Mo Babouli (York United)

83’ — Yellow: Niko Giantsopoulos (York United)

84′ — Yellow: Noah Jensen (Forge FC)

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