Up early, early to play soccer in the cup quarters for Forge FC, Montreal CF

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Forge FC and CF Montreal are due to land on Tuesday.

The Forge, the reigning Canadian Premier League champions, host the MLS team in the first game of the Canadian Championship quarterfinals in the 11:00 a.m. School Day Match.

“I don't think I've played a morning game since I was U-7 or U-8,” laughed Montreal defender Joel Waterman, who played in the CPL for Cavalier FC. “It's interesting.

“But look, we've got to play the game. For us, the mission does not change. We want to go out and win. We want to win this cup, it's no secret. Must be fun eating at 7:30 in the morning before the game.”

“What are you eating at this time?” to the question, he said: “Good question. I don't know if I can make the pasta early. Maybe other carbs: toast, anything, fruit, yogurt. We will see.”

Montreal coach Laurent Courtois shortened the starting time of the game.

“It's too early for both teams,” he said.

“We're going to talk about everything (Monday night). (Tuesday) we have breakfast, two memories, and then we go to the football game. There is no excuse,” he added.

The early start time is not phased by Forge coach Bobby Smirniotis.

“It doesn't change much for my plans,” he said. “Usually I'm here every morning at 6:30, 7… The difference is you're not preparing for practice, you're preparing for this match.”

Defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps travel to Cavalry FC in Tuesday's other quarter-final.

On Wednesday, it's Pacific FC at Atlético Ottawa and Toronto FC at Ligue 1 Quebec champions CS Saint-Laurent.

The quarterfinals are scheduled for May 21 in Toronto and Vancouver, May 22 in Montreal and May 29 in Pacific.

Tuesday's game at the Forge was originally scheduled to be the 500th match in CPL history – a league opener against Halifax Wanderers FC. But the trophy occupied the calendar slot.

The CPL will now celebrate its 500th game on Friday when York United FC host Valor Football Club.

More than 10,000 students from more than 100 schools are expected to be at Tim Hortons on Tuesday. Forge has ordered around 2,300 school buses to transport young fans to the stadium, with some schools providing their own transport.

Forge averaged 5,484 per home game last season. A club record 17,611 was set for the first league match on 27 April 2019.

Vancouver and 2023 runners-up Montreal have a bye in the first round of the 14-team cup tournament, while Cavalry and Forge eliminated other CPL opponents Vancouver FC and York United FC, respectively.

The winner of the Canadian Championship will host the Voyageurs Cup and qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the men's confederation's elite club competition.

It's the fourth year in a row that Forge and Montreal have won all three meetings against an MLS team in Cup play: 8-7 in penalty kicks in the 2021 semifinals, 3-0 in the '22 quarterfinals) and 2-0 in the '23 semifinals.

The game is also a meeting between the brothers, with David Chaunier playing for Forge and younger brother Mathieu Chaunier wearing Montreal colors.

The winner of Forge-Montreal will face either TFC or CS Saint-Laurent in the semifinals.

Forge last played on April 27th, going 3-0-0 with a win over Valor FC 21 in CPL play. Montreal (3-4-3, eight of 10 on the road) lost 4-1 at Nashville SC on Saturday.

Vancouver Whitecaps Cavalry FC

Cavalry and white men have a history.

Calgary defeated Vancouver 2-1 in the third qualifying round of the 2019 Cup before falling to eventual champions Montreal (3-1 on aggregate) in the semifinals.

The Whitecaps avenged that loss by defeating the Cavaliers 5-3 in a penalty shootout in the 2022 quarterfinals. The Cavaliers were on the wrong end of another penalty shootout in the 2023 preliminary round, losing 5-3 to Pacific FC.

Vancouver, which sits in fourth place in the MLS Western Conference at 5-3-2, has lost just one of its last six games (3-1-2) and was held to a scoreless draw by Austin FC in its 50th anniversary match.

The Cavalry, fifth in the CPL at 1-1-2, are unbeaten in three games (1-0-2) since dropping the season opener 2-1 at Forge.

“We're in a good place,” said Cavalry coach and general manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “What we have to do now is make it difficult to play against an established club like the Whitecaps who are in good form themselves. .”

Vancouver is looking to win the Cup for the third year in a row.

“It would be a huge statement to everyone in the country that we are the top team,” Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini said.

Vancouver is without the injured Sam Adekugbe and Damir Krejlach, who grew up in Calgary.

The Cavaliers will be without midfielder Shamit Shom, who was suspended after being sent off in the Cup win over Vancouver. Wheeldon said Jesse Daly and Eric Kobza are back in training, while Tom Field and Ali Moose are doubtful.