FC Edmonton vs. Forge FC – Canadian Premier League, Saturday, November 13, 2021

It’s top against bottom in the Candian Premier League this Saturday, November 13, as high-flying Forge visits lowly Edmonton.

The Hammers sit three points clear at the CPL summit. At the opposite end of the standings, the Eddies find themselves one point adrift at the bottom.

On paper, this looks like a big mismatch. But let’s not forget that Edmonton has already beaten Forge this year. Can the underdog upset the odds once again?

After checking out the odds for Saturday’s showdown and analyzing the teams, I will share my prediction and pick for FC Edmonton vs. Forge FC.

As you would expect, all the top online soccer sportsbooks favor Forge (1.70) to claim all three points on Saturday.

With a mammoth 25-point gulf between the Hammers and Edmonton (3.10), it is no real surprise that Alan Koch’s side heads into this clash as the clear outsider.

However, it is worth noting that the Eddies have drawn almost 40% of their games this season. Does that make the draw (3.70) a realistic option?

Let’s find out.

It’s safe to say 2021 has been a disappointing year for Edmonton.

Koch’s men have only managed to win five of their 27 CPL games this season, registering ten draws and 12 losses in the process.

Scoring goals hasn’t been a major issue for the Eddies this term. In fact, only four teams in the league have a better offensive record. However, they have struggled at the other end of the pitch.

The Eddies have won just one of their previous ten outings and head into Saturday’s clash on a five-match winless run. Can they finish the season on a high?

Well, they can take confidence from their recent performances against Forge. They claimed a 2-0 victory over the Hammers back in July before losing by just a single goal a fortnight later.

Still, it goes without saying that securing three consecutive wins over the reigning champions won’t be easy.

On Tuesday, the Hammers extended their winning streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over York United – producing a totally dominant display.

Forge enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and racked up 16 shots in midweek, with Tristian Borges, Daniel Krutzen, and Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson getting on the scoresheet.

Krutzen has now contributed five goals from center-back this season, while Borges has bagged three goals and five assists.

When you look at the bigger picture, the Hammers have won 16 of their 26 CPL matches in 2021. As a result, they sit three points clear of second-place Cavalry in the standings.

They also boast the best defensive record in the league. The defending champs have conceded a measly 22 goals this year, with Triston Henry and Baj Maan achieving 11 shutouts between them.

Even if Smyrniotis’ men fail to keep a clean sheet on Saturday, they should be able to outscore Edmonton without any real problems.

As I already mentioned, Edmonton beat Forge back in July. But a lot has changed since then.

The Hammers have lost only six of their last 24 Canadian Premier League matches since losing to Edmonton. Better still, they have won seven of their previous nine CPL encounters.

On the flip side, the Eddies have managed to win just two of their past 19 outings across all competitions.

Edmonton will be desperate to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon this season, but I can’t see them preventing in-form Forge from claiming all three points on Saturday.