‘It’s going to be a scrap’: Hamilton’s Forge FC opens tournament in El Salvador

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Published October 22, 2020 at 10:18 am

A little over a month after winning a second consecutive league title, the Canadian Premier League’s only ever champion is back on the pitch tonight (Oct. 22) at 8 p.m.

Forge FC is in El Salvador to take on Club Deportivo Municipal Limeño in the preliminary round of the 2020 Concacaf League, which features some of the top club teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The game will air live on TSN 3.

“They fight for everything,” said Forge FC defender David Edgar in an interview with the club’s official website, referring to teams from Central America.

“You’re not going to get many calls, refereeing-wise, but it’s what’s expected for both teams. It’s going to be a scrap”.

Hollow grounds

Forge and C.D. Municipal Limeño will play behind closed doors without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It won’t, however, be played at Municipal Limeño’s home stadium as it did not meet Concacaf requirements.

Instead, the clubs will meet at the Estadio Cuscatlán in Santa Rosa de Lima, which is the largest stadium in the country and the home ground of El Salvador’s national team.

Pigs on a pitch

Yes, C.D. Municipal Limeño’s crest is an adorable soccer-playing pig.

According to John Molinaro, Director of Content at Canpl.ca, “Municipal Limeño are also known as ‘cucheros’. In El Salvador a pig is also called ‘cuche’ and that’s why Municipal Limeño are known as the ‘cucheros’.”

2021 Champions League

A win Thursday for The Hammers and they’ll advance to the round of 16 where they will play a knockout match against FC Tauro in Panama on Nov. 3.

The eventual winner of the 22-team Concacaf League, as well as the next top-five ranked clubs, will earn a spot in the 2021 Concacaf Champions League. So if Forge FC reaches the quarter-finals of the Concacaf League, they have a chance to qualify for the Champions League. If they reach the semifinals, Forge would guarantee their spot in the region’s biggest tournament in 2021.

Cover photo: Forge FC mascot, Sparx, cheers with Forge fans. (Aaron Lynett/CP)

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