Atlético Ottawa suffer first loss of 2025, but process remains the focus
All good things must come to an end, and so must the undefeated streak of Atlético Ottawa. It was not a pretty game, passes were poor, communication suffered, runs went unfinished, and not a single shot found its way on target. While Atleti were without David Rodriguez, a key piece of their attack, that was no excuse for a poor performance across the team. While Halifax’s defence is not easy to break down, more was needed from the CPL’s most explosive attack, but they were found wanting. However, performances like these are important and happen to every team. What defines them is what comes after and how they react. Here is a look back at the pre- and post game reactions for the match!
Loic Cloutier joined the pre-game discussion, and on discussing his start to the year, he noted:
“Honestly, its been very positive playing so many matches to start the season, but its more about how I can improve. I find that I’ve had good games and areas for improvement, and that is more what I am focused on. The good games are in the past, and we are looking to the future.” (Translated from French)
This has been a theme in pressers and discussions with players and coaches. That really this is a process, and a process focused on improvement. It does make some early year results like this loss sting a little less. It is also a moment to reflect and look for those improvements. Fundamentally it comes down to trust, from the fans and from coaches, which is something Loïc credited with his ability to perform the way he individually and the team collectively has performed.
Going in to this game, Cloutier also spoke about the differences between the HFX side they played against to start the year and the side they would ultimately face on Saturday:
“We aren’t expecting anything different, we’ve watched a lot of tape on our opponent and we know that Halifax have had a good start to the year. They had a good game against us here in Ottawa, so we are expecting the same thing, especially with the ball. For us it won’t change either, we know our system, and we will make some adjustments, but at the end of the day it will be the same.” (Translated from French)
Some things certainly felt like they would change, with the suspension of David Rodriguez on a very questionable second yellow card for dissent against Forge. Being a cornerstone for the attack, there were a lot of questions on how this team would look in his absence. On missing star player David Rodriguez, coach noted pre-game:
“David is a very good player for us, but we have the advantage that we work a lot in our model, so every player knows our model, so I know that the player that plays in the spot of David will have an amazing match. I trust a lot in the other players in the roster, so I think that for sure that we will miss David, but the next player is ready to play and do the things well.”
Unfortunately, the player taking David’s spot had a very large hole to fill, and it did not seem like it was filled individually or on aggregate. Sissoko simply lacked the pace and positioning Rodriguez usually provides. It was a great moment for someone to step up, but sadly, no one really did. Still, Coach Mejia noted the high level Halifax are playing at, that their use of long balls and winning second balls was quite strong. What he did not predict was how much the team would suffocate under their press and the way the grass choked out many, many a wayward pass, giving HFX the edge in the match. Two set pieces, one a penalty, were all that really separated the sides, but the attacking football we’ve come to expect was simply not firing on all cylinders, and misfiring far more often than not. Manny Aparicio noted post-game:
“It was just a tough one early on to get adjusted to the grass a little bit, obviously it’s been raining and its a bit quicker than what we are used to with the turf. But that’s not an excuse, we have to be more up for it. It felt like they came out a step ahead with a little bit more urgency and energy. Obviously, there’s still a lot of season leftover, a lot of games to play, we will be back here in a few months and we will try to fix what didn’t work. Work on ourselves and get better.”
Coach would go on to agree, when asked about prolonged rest and the effect of the turf, he said:
“I always say that I prefer to play a lot of matches and not train. When you cut the sequence that you train 3 days and play, train and play, maybe you can lose that rhythm and pace. But it’s not the problem. Yes for sure that kind of surface doesn’t help us a lot because in our model, our players we drive a lot of the ball and when you try to drive the ball here, it is really hard because the grass is long. But this isn’t a pretext. They (HFX) played good, I think that they get an option and they convert, so I think that the match was a very empty match and it's all part of the process.”
There really isn’t much more to say about the match. Atleti were very poor in most stages of the game, while Halifax played with full energy at home. There are a lot of areas in need of improvement before our next game at the Wanderers’ grounds. A bright sign is that both player and coach once again returned to the process in the face of the loss. While they took note that conditions weren’t ideal, neither were willing to settle for the easy excuse of the difference in pitch, rest or anything else. It all comes back to the process, that is to say the process of learning and growing as a team into the best form it can be, which is something the coach and players have expressed in every moment, good or bad, of this season. It brings a level of confidence that while we played very poorly against Halifax this week, the determination to improve which was spoken of in the very successful first 7 games is still there. Only time will tell if Mejia can deliver, but the season is still quite young, and there is a lot of road ahead to fully realize what this team is capable of. We’ve seen it in the first 7, and will be eager to see it again. In the end, how the team fully stomachs this loss will be a defining moment in the 2025 campaign. Last year, the first loss came around a similar time, but it was met more with apathy. This year, it seems to be more focused on determination and moving forward and upward. It is a very promising sign, and there is still a lot to be excited for with this team.
The second game in our long trip away from home has been met with our worst performance this year, however there are several games to go before the lads get the comfort of playing in front of a friendly crowd. Fortunately, the best remedy to a bad performance is playing again to cleanse the palate. Vancouver FC have shown that they are a team with a few surprises, having drawn against Cavalry twice this year and beating Pacific and Valour. Any team can beat any team in this league, and if ATO hopes to right the ship, no better time than the present. Some reinforcements may be on the way as well, as coach, noted Iker Moreno is on his way to recovery from injury, with hopes he will be able to rejoin the lineup against Vancouver. Nothing is certain, but the injuries we have suffered to start the year have certainly been an added layer of difficulty. No matter who is on the game sheet, the best way to watch the boys is with your fellow fans, so be sure to join us down at the Glebe Central Pub to cheer on the boys together. Vamos Atleti!
About the Author
Jon Hopkins is a relatively fresh face on the pro-football fandom scene, being introduced it through Atlético Ottawa and the CPL. He grew up playing the beautiful game through his high school years in the Niagara Region. He has worked to support the growth of footie in Ottawa with CCSG since 2022, acting in several capacities as Lead Editor (2023), Treasurer (2024), and now Vice President (2025).
