/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65140655/1164743145.jpg.0.jpg)
Canadian Premier League side Forge FC were knocked out of the CONCACAF League on Thursday night, falling 4-1 to Honduran side C.D. Olimpia, 4-2 on aggregate.
Canada's only team in the tournament, Forge had already beaten Antigua GFC to get to this stage, and won the first leg of this tie 1-0 thanks to a goal from Chris Nanco in Hamilton on August 22nd.
Olimpia thought they had scored early, as one of their attackers fired a shot across the goal and into the net, but the linesman called it back for offside. It looked onside, but without VAR, the call stood.
Olimpia would find the back of the net in the 31st minute, as Jonathan Ferrari headed the ball home from just outside the six yard box. It was his first goal for Olimpia, and tied it up 1-1 on aggregate.
¡Todo empatado en Honduras! @CDOlimpia empate el marcador global con este gol de cabeza de Ferrari. #SCL2019 pic.twitter.com/nsoNNRc6BK
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 30, 2019
Olimpia would double their lead, and take the 2-1 lead on aggregate, in the 44th minute. Deybi Flores picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired a perfect shot into the top left corner. Forge goalkeeper Triston Henry had no chance of saving it, despite his best effort.
¡QUE GOLAZO DE DEYBI FLORES! Se adelanta @CDOlimpia con este ! #SCL2019 pic.twitter.com/cQWHPTAMXD
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 30, 2019
Forge came close just before the hour mark, as David Choinière’s shot went just wide of the post. They were creating more chances to score, mostly on the counter-attack and from set pieces, but Olimpia’s defenders were dealing with everything that the visitors could throw at them.
Olimpia extended their lead in the 75th minute, sealing the victory. After a ball over the Forge defence, substitute Jerry Bengtson crossed the ball to Junior Lacayo, who headed the ball in at the near post.
¡Cae el tercero de @CDOlimpia ! Loyaco anota el 3-0 para el equipo de casa
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 30, 2019
#SCL2019 #LoveForOurGame pic.twitter.com/aPl6rh80xW
Bengston, formerly of the New England Revolution, rubbed salt in the wound moments later, rolling the ball in backwards from a yard out. Daniel Krutzen tried to keep the ball from reaching him, but failed to clear it, and Bengston made no mistake from close range.
¡Gol de @CDOlimpia que sentencia la serie para los Hondureños! Los Campeones de Concacaf League 2017 están cerca de avanzar a los cuartos de final de #SCL2019 pic.twitter.com/97kH6YhoD6
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 30, 2019
David Choinière pulled one back for Forge in the 88th minute, but it was too little, too late for the visitors. Anthony Novak found him with a cross, and he fired it into the bottom left corner to pull his side within two goals.
Goal @ForgeFCHamilton ! David Choiniere claws one back for the Canadians | #SCL2019 #LoveForOurGame pic.twitter.com/XjD80SZgHM
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 30, 2019
The visitors were unable to find more goals in the final moments of the match, and it ended 4-1 (4-2 agg.). The woes continue for Canadian sides in San Pedro Sula, which was home to Canada’s infamous 8-1 defeat in World Cup Qualifying back in 2012.
Olimpia will move on to play Guatemalan side Comunicaciones FC in the next round, while Forge will look to bounce back against Pacific FC in Canadian Premier League action next Wednesday.