Brampton teen scores but Hamilton’s Forge FC drops Champions Cup draw vs Chivas

Mexican giants Chivas proved to be too much for Forge FC at the 2024 Champions Cup after a 2-1 win on home field in the second leg to advance to the Round of 16 on a 5-2 aggregate.

But the silver lining for the Hamilton side came in the third minute of stoppage time when 17-year-old substitute Kevaughn Tavernier stepped into the ball off a Tristan Borges corner and sent a powerful right-footed strike into the back of the net for a consolation goal.

It’s been a good week for the Brampton teenager, who has been called up to Canada’s U-20 men’s national team for the 2024 Concacaf Under-20 Championship Qualifiers set for Trinidad later this month. Tavernier made his first appearance for Forge in September and appeared in both matches against Chivas.

GOAL 🔨

A consolation? Sure, but for 17-year-old Kevaughn Tavernier, @ForgeFCHamilton, a HUGE goal kicks off what hopes to be a promising career in #CanPL! 🇨🇦

🔴 POST-GAME SHOW now airing on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/TX9W51EbAU

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) February 14, 2024

Chivas, holding a 3-1 away lead, had the hammer in Tuesday’s match at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and pressed their advantage quickly when Erick Gutierrez made the aggregate 4-1 just eight minutes in. Gutierrez was able to nudge the ball over the line after Forge ‘keeper Chris Kalongo couldn’t hold onto a header.

Forge started to push the play a bit in the second half but it was the Mexican side who added to their lead in the 62’ when Jose Castillo finished off a one-two combination and headed in the backbreaker.

Chivas will now face either domestic rivals Club America or Real Esteli of Nicaragua in the next round.

Forge, whose first competitive game since October’s CPL championship match at Tim Horton’s Field was last week’s first leg in Hamilton, now prepares for their league home opener April 13 against Cavalry in a rematch of the 2023 CPL final.