Welcome to As It Stands. At the start of each week through the end of the season, we’ll bring you this easy-to-digest wrap-up of everything you need to know from the weekend that was in the Canadian Premier League, and keep tabs on how each team is progressing in its hunt for silverware.

Week 2 in the Canadian Premier League gave us 10 goals in just three matches over the weekend, as a number of stars continued to shine across the league.

Forge FC remained perfect as they banked another clean-sheet win on Vancouver Island, beating Pacific 2-0 with a pair of well-worked set-piece routines.

On Sunday, the Halifax Wanderers came from behind to snag an away win at York Lions Stadium, as Tiago Coimbra’s late winner was enough to dispatch York United.

Finally, Atlético Ottawa scored early and often in Langley, with David Rodríguez continuing to run the show en route to a resounding 4-1 win over Vancouver FC.

So, here’s where we stand after two weeks. Cavalry and Valour, of course, had the weekend off, but there was plenty of action around them. Forge are the only team on two wins so far, which means they top the table, while the three sides outside the playoff picture are looking for their first points next weekend.

Already, a few teams are starting to show us trends that suggest at their identities for this season. Forge, as usual, are lethal, and seem to be adding increasingly complex set-pieces to their arsenal. Ottawa, as promised, look like a brand new team under Diego Mejía, and are playing a much more exciting brand of football — which led them to score four goals in Vancouver.

There’s a lot to like in Halifax, who actually did not start the game well at York, and in fact gave the ball away far too easily in the first half, but they found a way to turn things around in the second half. The come-from-behind win is just their second ever on the road, the first being a game in Edmonton back in 2022. Through two matches, the Wanderers now have four points away from home — not far off the six total they had in 2024.

 Monday Reading

Awards Watch

Well, last week we mentioned Julian Altobelli’s quick start in the Golden Boot race, so we’d be remiss not to point out that now both Giorgio Probo and David Rodríguez have caught him. There’s been no shortage of scoring in the CPL so far this year, and a few stars are really beginning to stand out.

One name to keep an eye on at this early stage is Jassem Koleilat. The Forge goalkeeper earned some consideration for a Golden Glove nomination last year despite limited appearances, and this year as the out-and-out number one in Hamilton he’s likely an early favourite to at least make the shortlist of three. He has yet to concede a goal in two outings for the Hammers so far this season.

Meanwhile, there are two matchweeks left in April for anybody to build their case for Player of the Month. Right now, though, the frontrunner has to be David Rodríguez. The Mexican loanee has been outstanding for Atlético Ottawa this year, looking immediately like one of the most dangerous attacking players in the CPL.

U-21 Minutes Update

Vancouver FC are already more than a quarter of the way through their 2,000-minute requirement, and Atlético Ottawa aren’t far off either.

In fact, through the first two weeks of the season, we’ve already seen 2,275 total domestic U-21 minutes — a 169 per cent increase over the first two matchweeks of 2024 (with one fewer game played this year).

Several teams have already seen enormous contributions from their young players; the winning goals in both the Forge and Halifax games were by U-21 players, thanks to Khadim Kane and Tiago Coimbra.

Coming up next…

Friday, April 18

Cavalry FC vs. Vancouver FC — 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET (Also on TSN)

Saturday, April 19

Atlético Ottawa vs. York United — 1 p.m. ET
Halifax Wanderers vs. Pacific FC — 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
Forge FC vs. Valour FC — 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT

(Watch all games live on OneSoccer, and this week catch the Cavalry FC vs. Vancouver FC match on TSN.)

Photo of the Week

We’re not quite sure what’s going on with Tiago Coimbra’s goal celebration here, but the Wanderers certainly looked like they were having fun on Sunday.