It’s full steam ahead for Atlético Ottawa. After defeating Cavalry FC 2-0 on Wednesday, July 12, the team that has struggled through much of the 2023 season is finally on track towards their goal of clinching a Canadian Premier League playoff spot.
But the game in Calgary wasn’t exactly as fast-paced as a moving train. Neither team had a shot on target until the 81st minute.
Ottawa’s chances at scoring were slim in the first half. A cross in the early minutes of the game by Atlético midfielder Ollie Bassett didn’t amount to much. The same can be said for the team’s corners.
Basset would later feed a pass to striker Ruben Del Campo. He whipped it over to Jean-Aniel Assi, but the team still didn’t manage a shot on target. It was arguably their closest chance in the first 45 minutes of the game.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Atlético had one last good chance. Bassett’s touch on the ball let him down on this one — but it wouldn’t be the last of him. More on that later.
Cavalry had some chances, too, from corners and either blocked or missed shots from inside the box.
Still. it wasn’t until the 80th minute when things got interesting.
Cavalry’s back line fumbled the ball just enough for Atlético’s Malcolm Shaw to get his touch on it. Ripping through his opponents back line, he managed to dribble past their team’s keeper before Cavalry’s Marco Carducci fouled him inside the box. A penalty was called right away.
For the third match in a row, Bassett stepped up for the kick — and he scored what would prove to be the game-winner. It was his seventh goal of the season, putting him joint-top of the CPL’s Golden Boot race, tied with Cavalry FC’s Myer Bevan and Forge FC’s Terran Campbell.
With Atlético up 1-0, and Cavalry feeling the pressure to take chances, Atlético advantage. Calgary’s back line fumbled the ball enough for Atlético’s Sam Salter to get his foot on it. He dished it to Assi, who went through on goal and from inside the box closed the game out.
It was Assi’s first goal for Ottawa, and he scored it against his former team.
Ottawa hasn’t had an easy ride this season. The club has found itself at the bottom of the league standings more than once, but having gone undefeated in their last three games, a win in their next match against Vancouver could have them moving as high as fourth in the league.
At the mid-way point of the 28-game regular season, Ottawa has a 5-3-6 win-draw-loss record for 18 points. The team is currently in sixth place in the eight-team CPL, but four clubs — second-place Forge FC (22 points), third-place Cavalry (21), fourth-place York United (20) and fifth-place Halifax Wanderers (19) — are well within striking distance of Atlético.
Pacific FC remains atop the CPL standings with 25 points. The top five clubs make the playoffs. The team that finishes first will play the second-place team and the winner will host the final. The fourth- and fifth-placed teams will compete to earn a game against the third-place club. The winner of that match will play the loser of the game between the first- and second-place teams for the other spot in the final.
Atlético coach Carlos Gonzalez emphasized how important the team’s final stretch of the season will be.
“Every single game counts for the same three points,” Gonzalez said. “The reality is that now we move on, in three days we have a new game.”
Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. praised Ottawa for their coaching and gameplay. Before it had even started, he knew Ottawa was coming into the match with a defensive style in mind.
“They’re going to probably come here and try and suck the life out of the game,” he anticipated.
Sure enough, Cavalry kept the ball close to them, having it for two-thirds of the match. Still, it wouldn’t be enough to break through Atlético’s back line. The home club had only four shots in the match, none on target.
“The reality is that our attacking prowess wasn’t what it has been. I can’t be too harsh on the lads; hopefully it’s just a blip,” said Wheeldon.
Cavalry’s lack of offence gave Ottawa time and space to seize the game in its later moments; all it took was two counter-attacks for two goals.
For Cavalry to know Ottawa’s plan prior to the match, it proved frustrating to be unable to stop it. “We knew Ottawa would come in and do exactly what they did. We’ve played that game several times,” said Wheeldon.
Cavalry controlled the ball for much of the match, but Atlético’s win was reminiscent of the team that topped the league in 2022: strong, cohesive defending as a team before successfully attacking in transition with their speed and creative ball movement.
Atlético finished as the more dangerous team, scoring on both of their shots on target, and creating eight chances to Cavalry’s three. Ottawa held Cavalry to zero shots on goal.
Goalkeeper Nathan Ingham secured a clean sheet, his fourth of the season, and an important win in his 100th CPL match.
‘The reality is that our attacking prowess wasn’t what it has been. I can’t be too harsh on the lads; hopefully it’s just a blip.’
— Tommy Wheeldon Jr., head coach, Cavalry FC
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, 19-year-old Gabriel Antinoro was a critical part of Ottawa’s midfield. He won 9 of 17 duels, second only to Alberto Zapater, who has played more than 450 games in top European leagues.
Antinoro also had the second most tackles of any player for Ottawa (4).
Atlético Ottawa heads back home this weekend to host Vancouver FC on Sunday. Ottawa is looking for their third straight win and fourth consecutive home win.
Currently, Vancouver is dead last in the league, but are not to be taken for granted.
