Atlético Ottawa Resurgence in 2-0 Triumph Over Regular Season Champs
After a challenging five-game winless streak, Atlético Ottawa has roared back to life with a complete 2-0 victory over regular season champions Forge FC. The teams faced off on October 12th at Tim Hortons Field, where Ottawa seized the momentum early, taking the lead in the first half. Not only did they maintain that advantage, but they also relentlessly pressed forward, creating several opportunities that could have easily resulted in an even more commanding scoreline. By the end of the game, Ottawa showcased their dominance with 12 shots, nine of which were on target, while Forge managed just four, failing to put any on goal. This marks Ottawa’s first win since August 31st, a much-needed boost as they prepare to head into playoffs.
Their last outing against their other Ontario rivals York United was a tough pill to swallow, as Ottawa narrowly lost 1-0 despite showing strong resilience. After going down to ten men when Liberman Torres received a red card in the 25th minute, the team held York at bay for nearly 45 minutes after that and outshot them 10 to 2. However, the inability to find the back of the net was frustrating, and they eventually fell to a 70th minute York goal. Putting that disappointment behind them, Atléti returned to the pitch against Forge, a matchup that has historically delivered excitement. With two wins in their last three encounters against Forge and an aggregate score of 7-6 before Saturday’s game, anticipation was high, and fans were finally treated to an electrifying performance that showcased the talent we expect of Ottawa’s line-up.
Forge FC kicked off the match, but their early attempts to penetrate Ottawa’s defense were met with resolute resistance. In the 5th minute, a promising play unfolded when Malcolm Duncan fed Noah Jensen, who deftly passed to Bekker at the edge of the box. Luckily, Ottawa’s Luke Singh positioned himself perfectly to block the shot, deflecting it away from target and slowing it down enough for goalkeeper Nathan Ingham to gather the ball and initiate a counterattack.
Atlético, now in the ascendancy, tested Jassem Koleilat in the 9th minute. Singh launched a long ball to Matteo de Brienne, who tried to direct a soft header to Ballou Tabla from the 18-yard line. However, the attempt was too close to the keeper, allowing Koleilat to snatch it from the air. Shortly after, Samuel Salter seized on a turnover from Malik Owolabi-Belewu outside the penalty arc. He carried the ball forward into the box and, facing pressure from Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, forcing Koleilat to dive left and parry the ball away for a corner kick.
The resulting corner taken by Ollie Bassett proved to be a turning point for the rougie-blancos, as Manny Aparicio capitalized on the opportunity in the 15th minute to open the scoring. With room to maneuver, he darted in front of the goalkeeper and jumped high to head the corner ball into the near upper 90 of the net, sending Ottawa into the lead. Energized by the goal, Altético (uncharacteristically) pressed forward, forcing Koleilat into action again just two minutes later. Bassett carried the ball forward and launched a shot from around 20 yards out, which Koleilat parried into the turf. With the ball bouncing, Salter leapt for the rebound but couldn’t connect, and with two Forge defenders marking him, Bassett was free to link with the loose ball – unfortunately, his touch was heavy and it went out for a goal kick.
Looking to double their advantage, Aparicio came tantalizingly close to scoring again in the 19th minute. Bassett’s long shot found Aparicio unmarked at the far post in the penalty area – attempting to guide the ball in, it deflected off his boot, but the angle was off, and the ball landed just past the opposite post, where Forge scrambled to recover.
It was Didić who hoped to slot the next goal for Ottawa, and he nearly did so in the 36th minute thanks to a marvelous cross from de Brienne into the box. Didić ran in, got his body in front of Daniel Parra, and stretched out his leg to make contact and guide the ball towards goal. However, Koleilat blocked the shot. The ball ricocheted into a dangerous area right in front of the target, and with quick reflexes, Salter capitalized on the moment to slot the ball into the net before Koleilat could regain his footing and Achinioti-Jönsson could react defensively, doubling Ottawa’s advantage.
Tensions flared in the 38th minute when Alessandro Hojabrpour was booked for a late contact foul, leading to a free kick taken by Didić that struck the post after a deflection in the wall and went out for a corner. Chaos erupted during the ensuing set piece when Parra punched Salter in the stomach after the two battled for a position at the far post. This earned the defender a yellow card, but he risks further disciplinary action that could leave Forge without a key player for future matches.
Forge took the final chance of the half in the 44th minute, when Hojabrpour, who had carried the ball up to the byline, slotted it through to find Kyle Bekker at the top of the box. With one touch, Bekker sent it flying over the crossbar, thwarting the first real chance the home team saw that half.
As the first half drew to a close, Forge had managed just three shots compared to Ottawa’s nine, with the visitors showcasing their dominance with six shots on target, while Forge had managed none. The hosts made tactical changes at halftime, subbing on Orlendis Benítez for Viktor Klonaridis, hoping to turn the tide in the second half.
Ottawa kicked off the second 45 with fierce determination to maintain their lead. In the 49th minute, Forge took their first chance of the second half as they launched a long ball forward to Choinière, who flicked it on to Nana Ampomah. Sneaking behind the defense and into the box, Ampomah managed to get a touch, but the ball rolled too far ahead, allowing Ingham to come off his line and collect it before any real threat could materialize.
Just a minute later, Bassett delivered a well-placed ball into the box, but Koleilat was quick to catch it, keeping Ottawa at bay. As the game progressed, Ingham showcased his skills once more in the 60th minute, rushing out of his box to chest a long ball away from Ampomah (thankfully not pulling a Gazdov), demonstrating his readiness to react despite being relatively unchallenged throughout the match. However, seven minutes later Ottawa faced a critical defensive moment when Jensen sent a cross into the box for Jordan Hamilton, who headed it onward. Ingham made a desperate dive left with fingers outstretched, and was helped out by the goalpost, which stopped the shot and sent the ball rolling out for a goal kick.
The match took a turn in the 69th minute when Hojabrpour received a second yellow card for a blatant shove à la Harry Kane on a leaping Salter, putting Forge down to ten men for the final twenty minutes of the match. Ottawa seized the opportunity, earning a free kick outside the box in the 73rd minute for a foul on Dani Morer, but substitute Rubén Del Campo’s delivery went straight to Koleilat, who handled it easily. Ottawa remained relentless and continued attempts to catch the Forge keeper off his line, while Forge tried to create opportunities but kept finding themselves offside behind a well disciplined ATO back line.
As the match entered added time, Del Campo found himself at the top of the box, setting up Ilias Iliadis perfectly with a cross for a tap in at the back post. Unfortunately, Iliadis miscalculated the weight, missing the net entirely. In the end, Ottawa outperformed Forge and had every opportunity to extend their lead on multiple occasions, and truly dominated throughout the match.
The positioning and distance of Ottawa’s players opened up the field and allowed them to control the game more effectively than we’ve seen in recent matches. Ingham, hardly tested aside from acting as a sweeper in one instance, celebrated his sixth clean sheet of the season — a true testament to the strength of Ottawa’s backline (and the woodwork). As for this week’s standout player, there were too many exceptional displays to mention, so it’s best to check the Player Ratings for the details.
Atlético Ottawa’s final regular season game is set for Saturday, October 19th, at TD Place, kicking off at 4 PM. Ottawa will face Vancouver FC, a team they’ve enjoyed success against this season with two wins and a draw. This match holds significant stakes, as all four CPL games will be played simultaneously, determining whether Ottawa or Cavalry FC will secure 2nd or 3rd place, while Pacific FC, Vancouver FC, and Valour FC vie for the last playoff spot. Additionally, this game will mark the farewell appearance of Ottawa football legend Maxim Tissot, a Gatineau native, who announced his retirement earlier this month. Don’t miss this thrilling event – grab your tickets and head down to Lansdowne to support the team!
About the author
C.D. Girard (she/her/elle) discovered Atlético Ottawa during their 2023 season and has been a loyal fan ever since. A long-time admirer of the sport, she first began playing football at the age of seven and most looks forward to international competitions where she supports both Canada and the Netherlands.
