2021 Canadian Premier League final

{{Infobox football match

| title = 2021 Canadian Premier League Final

| image =

| caption =

| event = 2021 Canadian Premier League season

| team1 = Forge FC

| team1score = 0

| team2 = Pacific FC

| team2score = 1

| man_of_the_match1a = Alessandro Hojabrpour {{nowrap|(Pacific FC)}}

| details =

| date = December 5, 2021

| stadium = Tim Hortons Field

| city = Hamilton, Ontario

| weather = Cloudy / Windy
{{convert|1|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
75% humidity{{cite web |url=https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/ca/hamilton/CYHM/date/2021-12-5 |title=Weather History for CYHM |website=Weather Underground |publisher=The Weather Company |date=December 5, 2021 |access-date=December 6, 2021}}

| referee = Yusri Rudolf

| attendance = 7,488

| previous = 2020

| next = 2022

}}

The 2021 Canadian Premier League Final was a soccer match which determined the winner of the 2021 Canadian Premier League season. It was played on December 5, 2021, in Hamilton, Ontario, between Forge FC and Pacific FC. Those teams qualified as the winners of their first round playoff matches.{{cite web |last1=Jacques |first1=John |title=Forge Hammers Way To Final In Playoff 905 Derby |url=https://northerntribune.ca/2021-canadian-premier-league-playoff-forge-york/ |website=Northern Tribune |access-date=22 November 2021 |date=21 November 2021}} Forge FC were the defending champions.

Pacific FC defeated Forge FC 1–0 to claim their first CPL title.{{cite news |title=HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC crowned Canadian Premier League champions with 1-0 win vs. Forge |url=https://canpl.ca/video/recap-pacific-fc-crowned-canadian-premier-league-champions-with-1-0-win-vs-forge |first=Charlie |last=O'Connor-Clarke |website=canpl.ca |publisher=Canadian Premier League |date=December 5, 2021 |access-date=August 23, 2022}} Alessandro Hojabrpour scored the game's only goal in the 59th minute and was named man of the match.{{cite tweet |user=CPLsoccer |number=1467665106200899590 |date=December 5, 2021 |title=The @Gatorade Man of the Match is @ahojabrpour |access-date=December 6, 2021}} Winning the championship earned the club the right to compete in the 2022 CONCACAF League where they ultimately reached the round of 16.{{cite news |title=RECAP: 10-man Pacific fall to Herediano on penalties in gutsy Concacaf League performance |url=https://canpl.ca/article/recap-pacific-bow-out-of-concacaf-league-on-penalties-after-gutsy-performance-vs-herediano |first=Charlie |last=O'Connor-Clarke |website=canpl.ca |publisher=Canadian Premier League |date=August 23, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2022}}

Path to the Final

{{:2021 Canadian Premier League season|transcludesection=regular}}

Playoff semi-final results

{{OneLegResult|Cavalry FC||1–2 {{aet}}|Pacific FC}}

=Forge FC=

Forge FC entered the Final as the two-time defending league champions, having defeated Cavalry FC in the 2019 Finals and HFX Wanderers FC in the 2020 Final. On October 26, Forge clinched a playoff berth while inactive and then secured 1st place in the regular season following a win on November 9.{{cite web |last=Urciuoli |first=Anthony |title=Vying for 3rd straight title, Forge FC Hamilton guaranteed home-field advantage throughout Canadian Premier League playoffs |url=https://www.insauga.com/vying-for-3rd-straight-title-forge-fc-hamilton-guaranteed-home-field-advantage-throughout-canadian-premier-league-playoffs/ |website=insauga |access-date=December 5, 2021 |date=November 10, 2021}} Forge advanced to the finals by defeating 4th ranked York United FC at home in the semi-finals.

=Pacific FC=

This was Pacific FC's first Final, improving from a fourth place finish in 2020. On October 24, they became the 2nd team to qualify for the playoffs by virtue of a York United draw against Atlético Ottawa. Pacific finished 3rd in the regular season and advanced to the finals by defeating 2nd ranked Cavalry FC on the road in the semi-finals.{{cite web |last=Jacques |first=John |title=Pacific Powers Way To 2021 CPL Final |url=https://northerntribune.ca/2021-canadian-premier-league-playoff-cavalry-pacific/ |website=Northern Tribune |access-date=November 23, 2021 |date=November 20, 2021}}

=Head-to-head=

This was the fourth meeting of the year between the two clubs with Forge having won all of the previous three games. Forge had the advantage in the all-time series with 8 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses.{{cite web |last1=O'Connor-Clarke |first1=Charlie |title=PREVIEW: Forge FC vs. Pacific FC -- 2021 CPL Final |url=https://canpl.ca/article/preview-forge-fc-vs-pacific-fc-2021-cpl-final |website=Canadian Premier League |access-date=5 December 2021 |date=4 December 2021}}

Forge earned the right to host the Final by having the better overall record in the regular season.{{cite web |title=CPL reveals 2021 season format: 28-game schedule to conclude with four-team playoff for championship |url=https://canpl.ca/article/cpl-reveals-2021-season-format-28-game-schedule-to-conclude-with-four-team-playoff-for-championship |publisher=Canadian Premier League |access-date=June 24, 2021 |date=June 24, 2021}} Pacific entered the match on two weeks of rest since their previous match in the CPL semi-final. Forge had played two CONCACAF League matches following the semi-final, including an away match in Honduras four days before the CPL Final.

Match details

=Summary=

=Details=

{{Football box

|id=

|date=December 5

|time=4:30 pm EST

|team1=Forge FC

|score=0–1

|report=[https://canpl.ca/video/recap-pacific-fc-crowned-canadian-premier-league-champions-with-1-0-win-vs-forge Recap]
[https://canpl.ca/matchcentre/89y1lsu2axb6qw9aiq9babris/highlights Report]

|team2=Pacific FC

|goals1=

|goals2=

Hojabrpour {{goal|59}}

|stadium=Tim Hortons Field

|location=Hamilton, Ontario

|attendance= 7,488

|referee= Yusri Rudolf

}}

width=92% |

{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _forgefc21h

| pattern_b = _forgefc21h

| pattern_ra = _forgefc21h

| pattern_sh = _forgefc21h

| pattern_so = _forgefc21h

| leftarm = FFFFFF

| body = FFFFFF

| rightarm = FFFFFF

| shorts = FFFFFF

| socks = FF6000

| title = Forge

}}

|{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _pacific21h

| pattern_b = _pacific21h

| pattern_ra = _pacific21h

| pattern_sh = _pacific21h

| pattern_so =

| leftarm = FFFFFF

| body = FFFFFF

| rightarm = FFFFFF

| shorts = FFFFFF

| socks = 592b82

| title = Pacific

}}

width=25\|	width=25\|
style="width:100%;"
style="vertical-align:top; width:40%;"\| {\| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
colspan="4"\|Forge FC:
GK	1	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Triston Henry
RB	8	{{flagicon\|SEN}} Elimane Cissé	{{yel\|58}}
CB	23	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Garven-Michée Metusala		{{suboff\|76}}
CB	4	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Dominic Samuel
LB	6	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Kwame Awuah
CM	13	{{flagicon\|SWE}} Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson
CM	10	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Kyle Bekker (c)
RW	99	{{flagicon\|PAN}} Omar Browne	{{sent off\|2\|17\|90+1}}
AM	19	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Tristan Borges		{{suboff\|68}}
LW	18	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Molham Babouli
CF	14	{{flagicon\|GUY}} Emery Welshman		{{suboff\|68}}
colspan="3"\|Substitutes:
GK	31	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Baj Maan
MF	7	{{flagicon\|CAN}} David Choinière		{{subon\|68}}
FW	11	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Chris Nanco
DF	15	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Maxim Tissot
FW	17	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Woobens Pacius		{{subon\|68}}
MF	24	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Paolo Sabak	{{yel\|90+2}}
FW	25	{{flagicon\|CRC}} Joshua Navarro		{{subon\|76}}
colspan=3\|Manager: {{flagicon\|CAN}} Bobby Smyrniotis
colspan=4\|

|valign="top"|415x415px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

width=25\|	width=25\|
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:90%; margin:auto;"
colspan="4"\|Pacific FC:
GK	13	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Callum Irving
RB	2	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Kadin Chung
CB	6	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Lukas MacNaughton
CB	26	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Thomas Meilleur-Giguère	{{yel\|31}}
LB	3	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Jordan Haynes
DM	21	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Alessandro Hojabrpour	{{yel\|90+2}}	{{suboff\|83}}
RW	11	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Josh Heard		{{suboff\|76}}
CM	22	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Jamar Dixon (c)
CM	34	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Manny Aparicio
LW	14	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Terran Campbell
CF	24	{{flagicon\|NED}} Gianni dos Santos		{{suboff\|63}}
colspan="3"\|Substitutes:
GK	31	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Isaac Boehmer
MF	8	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Matthew Baldisimo		{{subon\|76}}
MF	10	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Marco Bustos
DF	12	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Kunle Dada-Luke		{{subon\|63}}
MF	19	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Matteo Polisi
MF	20	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Sean Young	{{yel\|90+2}}	{{subon\|83}}
MF	23	{{flagicon\|NIR}} Ollie Bassett
colspan=3\|Manager: {{flagicon\|NOR}} Pa-Modou Kah
colspan=4\|

width=100% style="font-size:90%"

Man of the Match:

Alessandro Hojabrpour (Pacific FC)

style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"|

Assistant referees:

Gabrielle Lemieux

Stefan Tanaka-Freundt

Fourth official:

Pierre-Luc Lauzière

|style="width:60%;vertical-align:top"|

Match rules{{Cite web|date=November 17, 2021|title=2021 CPL Final: Tentative dates set for championship match next weekend|url=https://canpl.ca/article/2021-cpl-final-tentative-dates-set-for-championship-match-next-weekend|access-date=November 18, 2021|publisher=Canadian Premier League}}

90 minutes
30 minutes of extra time if necessary
Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time

References

Final

2021

Category:Forge FC matches

Category:Pacific FC matches

Category:December 2021 sports events in Canada

Category:2020s in Hamilton, Ontario

Category:Soccer competitions in Hamilton, Ontario

width=25\|	width=25\|
style="width:100%;"
style="vertical-align:top; width:40%;"\| {\| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
colspan="4"\|Forge FC:
GK	1	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Triston Henry
RB	8	{{flagicon\|SEN}} Elimane Cissé	{{yel\|58}}
CB	23	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Garven-Michée Metusala		{{suboff\|76}}
CB	4	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Dominic Samuel
LB	6	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Kwame Awuah
CM	13	{{flagicon\|SWE}} Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson
CM	10	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Kyle Bekker (c)
RW	99	{{flagicon\|PAN}} Omar Browne	{{sent off\|2\|17\|90+1}}
AM	19	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Tristan Borges		{{suboff\|68}}
LW	18	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Molham Babouli
CF	14	{{flagicon\|GUY}} Emery Welshman		{{suboff\|68}}
colspan="3"\|Substitutes:
GK	31	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Baj Maan
MF	7	{{flagicon\|CAN}} David Choinière		{{subon\|68}}
FW	11	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Chris Nanco
DF	15	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Maxim Tissot
FW	17	{{flagicon\|CAN}} Woobens Pacius		{{subon\|68}}
MF	24	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Paolo Sabak	{{yel\|90+2}}
FW	25	{{flagicon\|CRC}} Joshua Navarro		{{subon\|76}}
colspan=3\|Manager: {{flagicon\|CAN}} Bobby Smyrniotis
colspan=4\|