Atlético Ottawa Break Winless Streak in 3-0 Victory Against Pacific FC
After enduring a frustrating stretch of consecutive matches without a win, Atlético Ottawa finally broke their streak with a decisive 3-0 victory over Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC, on August 17th. This matchup, the fifth encounter between the two teams this year, was a decisive match for both who were winless in their last four games. Ottawa’s coach, Carlos González, made five changes to his starting lineup, which proved effective, as the team capitalized on set pieces to secure the crucial three points, propelling them into second place after dropping to fourth the week prior.
Atlético Ottawa established their lead shortly after Pacific FC kicked off the match, when Rubén Del Campo won a free kick in the 2nd minute near the final third. Dani Morer delivered a precise set piece into the penalty area, where Aboubacar Sissoko was well positioned to head the ball. Despite Sean Melvin’s dive to his left, Sissoko’s header bounced off the turf and into the bottom corner of the net, putting Ottawa ahead 1-0.
Trying to level the score, Reon Moore received a long ball into the box and passed centrally to Steffen Yeates in the 6th minute. Fortunately, Tyr Walker marked him tightly, preventing Yeates from getting a clear shot on target, and the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Ottawa continued their aggressive play, scoring a stunning olimpico in the 15th minute. New signee Ilias Iliadis curled a corner kick perfectly towards the goal. Melvin, having misjudged the delivery, was too far forward on his line and had to scramble backwards to get his fingertips to the ball, as Samuel Salter ran in to head the ball on. Iliadis’s shot struck the inside of the far post and deflected into the net before Melvin or Salter could intervene, and the red-and-white stripes found themselves up by two.
Three minutes later, Pacific were given a lifeline when Walker fouled Moore in a dangerous area in front of Ottawa’s goal. Andrei Tîrcoveanu took the free kick and curled the ball around the wall towards the near post. Alert and ready, Nathan Ingham made a quick, low save to keep Ottawa’s lead intact.
The visitors were given a great opportunity in the 22nd minute when Gabriel Antinoro, despite going down, managed to pass the ball to Del Campo. The striker advanced and attempted to cross the ball into the center of the box for Salter. Melvin, diving low, managed to get a hand on the delivery, preventing it from reaching Salter, but it rolled behind the keeper towards his goal. Salter and Kunle Dada-Luke raced after it, with Dada-Luke sliding in to clear the ball off the line before Salter could score.
Fortunately, Ottawa capitalized on the resulting corner kick to secure their third goal. Iliadis delivered the corner towards the near post where Melvin rushed off his line to punch it away. However, his teammate Moore got to it first, heading it onto the far post, where it deflected off of Tîrcoveanu. From there, the ball fell to an unmarked Del Campo, who half-volleyed it with his left foot through a crowded box, sneaking the ball low inside the near post.
Following the goal, Ottawa continued to press for a fourth and nearly saw it in the 25th minute. Salter advanced from midfield and passed to Del Campo in the penalty box. Salter, continuing his run, was well-positioned for Del Campo’s cross, but was thwarted by Melvin who came out and punched the ball clear. Morer offered a similar opportunity to Salter in the 37th minute, however, Salter produced a harmless header that floated into Melvin’s arms.
Pacific began to feel the weight of Ottawa’s lead and managed to create opportunities near the end of the first half. In the 30th minute, Iliadis slid in to prevent Adonijah Reid from getting a shot from inside the box and sent the ball out for a corner. Ingham was then forced to guide Tîrcoveanu’s shot over the crossbar, conceding a second corner. Luckily, Amer Didić was there to clear the shot.
One final chance of the half was awarded when Walker fouled Georges Mukumbilwa in a threatening spot, in the fifth minute of added time. Yeates took the set piece sending the ball deep into Ottawa’s box, but Ingham was quick to punch it away. Pacific regained possession and tried to find an opening just outside the box. With Ottawa defending well, Cédric Toussaint opted for a long-range shot forcing Ingham to run off his line again to propel himself upward and punch the ball clear. It bounced once and Dario Zanatta moved in for the rebound. With Ingham still on the ground, Zanatta attempted to score, but his shot was off target. Thomas Meilleur-Giguère lunged at the far post to redirect the ball towards goal but ended up guiding it over the net, bringing the first half to a close.
Hoping to turn the tide in the second half, Pacific FC made three substitutions at the break, which came in clutch as they saw their first chance in the 47th minute. However, Zanatta’s weak effort from the edge of the box was easily collected by Ingham, foreshadowing the difficulties the West Coast team would face for the remainder of the match.
Pacific did have a clearer opportunity in the 51st minute when Kevin Ceceri launched a long pass from his own end to Devin O’Hea at the 6-yard line. Ingham rushed off his line to punch the ball away, but O’Hea got his head to it, causing a midair collision. With Ingham out of position, Iliadis raced in to clear the ball that landed and began rolling towards Ottawa’s goal, preserving the clean sheet.
From there, the home-team continued to control the pace of play, as Atléti opted for a more defensive approach. Just three minutes later, Dala-Luke delivered the ball into the box from the right flank which narrowly missed the far post after Didić tightly marked O’Hea, preventing him from timing his header on the cross. Then in the 56th minute, Young took a shot from distance following a corner that was initially cleared, but his attempt sailed over the net.
Ottawa then brought in fresh legs, which helped to lock down Pacific once again until the 70th minute when Zakaria Bahous appeared to have scored from a free kick. Walker had fouled Bahous in a dangerous area a few yards outside the box. Yeates took the set piece sending the ball into the goalie box, where Bahous got his head to it. Luckily, the Pacific midfielder was offside nullifying the goal and keeping the score 3-0.
Ottawa retaliated in the 72nd with Didić heading an Ollie Bassett corner kick towards goal, and straight into Melvin’s arms. Then in the 79th minute, substitute Ballou Tabla nearly made it 4-0. He dribbled down the left flank and got a shot past Meilleur-Giguère, who slid in defensively. However, Melvin made the Save of the Match by palming the ball, before Meilleur-Giguère, still on the ground, cleared it away.
A minute later, Zachary Roy almost scored his first goal for Atléti when Iliadis switched the side of play following a throw-in. Mukumbilwa initially headed it away, but Tabla quickly regained possession and passed to Bassett, who found Roy unmarked on his right. Roy’s first-touch shot, however, was too powerful and soared over the frame.
The game ended with Pacific FC struggling to break through Ottawa’s defense in a last ditch effort to score. Their four shots in the last five minutes of play turned into a series of routine saves for Ingham. The Ottawa goalkeeper’s final saves all came from weak shots, and he earned the team yet another clean sheet, their sixth of the CPL season.
Atlético Ottawa play next on the road against Halifax at the Wanderers Grounds on August 24th at 2 PM. Halifax who are winless in their last three matches and currently sitting in last place will be looking for a win, whereas Ottawa hope to secure another three points in order to move them ahead of first place Forge FC.
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.
