(Photo credit:Jojo Yanjiao Qian/Forge FC)
We are just a little more than two weeks from CPL’s Decision Day and it is shaping up to be a wild one.
The CPL Shield may be set with league leaders Forge one win away from claiming the trophy for the second time.
In the ever-evolving race for the final playoff spot, none of the four teams can seem to set themselves apart. It’s become even more chaotic with the bottom four sides all separated by only two points.
What’s even more fun is none of the bottom four play one another on the final day so you better get four screens on at once.
Valour and Halifax are still short on U-21 minutes, which means those teams will need to make some lineup adjustments in these final three matchdays.
Halifax hosts a Vancouver side with only one point and one goal in its last five matches. Both sides absolutely MUST win this one to have any chance at a playoff spot. Vancouver must find their form and can’t afford to go six straight without a win. Halifax, sitting in the basement, could be four points out if they draw, with only two matches left. I expect a very tense match that will become very offense heavy as the match progresses.
Pacific are in 5th currently, and have the toughest schedule finishing their season against Cavalry, York and Forge. They lost on a brutal own goal last week to Valour and while not getting a win won’t end their playoff hopes, they would love to find a way to strike first in a battle of the league’s top two keepers this season.
Then there are those pesky Winnipegers. Valour has been hanging around and inching closer and closer to a playoff spot all season. They were the only team in the bottom four to earn a win last week (last three weeks to be exact) and they’re unbeaten in four straight. They host a side in Forge that can wrap up the CPL Shield in a nice orange bow with a win at Princess Auto Stadium.
This week, I’m giving a special shoutout to a young Canadian who is getting some much deserved recognition in the form of a CANMNT call-up.
Kwasi Poku has been called up by Jesse Marsch to represent his country for the first time after a successful move from Forge to RWD Molenbeek in the Belgian second division.
The 21-year-old has earned this call-up without a doubt. He’s scored 12 goals in 27 matches across all competitions in 2024. Jesse Marsch says his ability to play multiple positions on the pitch is something that stands out, and his scoring touch in a multitude of different ways are among the qualities that make Poku a really exciting addition to this upcoming camp.
Poku is one of three former CPL players to be called up to this squad for the upcoming friendly against Panama, joining CF Montreal teammates Joel Waterman and Jonathan Sirois.
I’m keeping my hopes low, but with his positional flexibility, I would not be surprised to see Poku actually take the pitch for a few minutes during that friendly on October 15th.
Poku is just the latest in what I can see being more and more young Canadians making big moves to Europe and getting a future call-up to represent Canada. (I wrote something about it earlier this season https://wearefootyprime.com/3089-2/).
And through all of his success, Forge’s ability to continue to pick up results without him has been incredible to watch. They are still the side to beat when it comes to the North Star Cup.
It’s a very exciting time. We are counting down the days until what I believe is one of the most unique and exciting playoff formats in football. Who is going to take the rest of the regular season by the horns and make themselves contenders in the playoffs?
5 responses to “CPL Corner #24 by Brett Lubkiwski”
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