Recap: Forge FC knocked out of CONCACAF League by C.D. Olimpia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.