Atlético Ottawa suffered a 2-0 loss to Forge FC in their 2026 season opener. The reigning Canadian Premier League champions struggled to generate offense against the four-time CPL champions. Brian Wright scored from the penalty spot and Ben Paton added another to help Forge FC beat Atlético Ottawa. The 31-year-old from Toronto slotted his spot-kick to the right of goalkeeper Tristan Crampton, who had fouled Wright to give up the penalty early in the first half. Play was paused for more than five minutes shortly after the foul, as the visitors elected to challenge the penalty call. Under the revised Canadian system, head coaches are allowed two challenges per match for game-changing decisions, with the referee reviewing each appeal using video assistance. Officials assessed two possible offsides, a potential foul in the build-up and a collision between the goalkeeper and the striker that led to the penalty. Ottawa's challenge was unsuccessful. The visitors struggled to generate offense against the four-time CPL champions. Ottawa didn't manage a single shot in the first half, despite holding 66 per cent possession at the break. Forge doubled their lead in the 68th minute. After a corner kick bounced off of a group of bodies in the Ottawa box, midfielder Paton finished a volley attempt from point-blank range. Crampton was tested a few more times after Paton's goal, but the 2-0 scoreline held. It was a complete performance by Forge in the 2026 CPL opener. They took more shots (10), landed more shots on target (4) and created more big chances (3) than Ottawa, who recorded zeros in all three categories. Ottawa travels to Calgary next to take on Cavalry FC on April 12, in a rematch of the 2025 CPL Final. Forge will take on Vancouver FC in their next league match.