CCSG Player Rankings: Matchday 7 vs. Forge FC
Streaks are meant to be broken. Atlético Ottawa finally defeated Forge at home on Saturday, ending a drought that had truly lasted far too long. The best part was, it wasn’t a nail-biting finish, or a chance goal at the end to steal it away. It was a comprehensive, professional win the likes of which are becoming more indicative of the type of team Carlos Gonzalez is fielding. Everyone stepped up on Saturday, and even if we couldn’t avoid the rain completely, there were no tears to the near 6 thousand that were on hand at TD Place. What’s amazing is that this team still might have one last lever to pull to reach its full potential. Hopefully, we don’t peak too early, but now having gone 9 unbeaten in all competitions, there’s a reason to have a little bit of swagger in our step. We shouldn’t forget the work we need to put in, but it’s looking good so far, from all angles. On to the ratings:
#19 Ruben Del Campo
(7.6): He just can’t get enough. 5 goals in 5 starts in the Canadian Premier League for Ruben Del Campo has him atop the golden boot race through the first quarter of the season. While the goal may have just been the icing on the cake for this particular result, it is some pretty sweet icing. A weak foot finish on the back of a lovely piece of build up play was something most Atlético Ottawa fans were only dreaming of from this team last season. More than that though, Ruben’s integration into the starting XI as a complete forward is even more important to the side becoming the best version of itself. There’s no longer a worry about whether or not our number 9 can play with his back to goal. There’s no longer a worry about the ability of our number 9 to distribute when necessary. And, at the end of the day, there’s no longer a worry about the ability of our number 9 to put the ball in the back of the net.
#9 Samuel Salter
(NR): It would be hard for any striker to try and break into the team when their competition is doing what Ruben is doing. Salter’s efforts in cameos though, aren’t going to be enough regardless of how well he performs. I would expect him to get the start in one of the next two games, and he really needs to show us something, otherwise, these little bits are the most he’s going to see.
#11 Gabriel Antinoro
(6.7): It was always going to be a bit of a tough ride in this game being matched up against Dom Samuel. While Antinoro certainly has the pace to be able to get past him, which he managed to do a handful of times early in the game, his dribbling ability in tight spaces was going to be limited given the strength advantage Samuel can exert. And exert it he did. Gabi was not able to complete either of his successful dribbles, nor was he able to consistently win the ball back, going 1/5 on ground duels and only recording one defensive action. That’s not to say he had a bad game, however, as offensively he worked very well down the left with Matteo De Brienne and Manny Aparicio in a triangle that progressed the ball well in the first half, leading to 2 created chances. 58 minutes towards the u21 threshold is maybe lower than we would have hoped to see from a Gabi start, but the impact he can have however long he’s on the pitch shows why he’s been tasked with carrying the bulk of those minutes in 2024.
#13 Ballou Tabla
(7): With each game we’re starting to see more flashes of Ballou Tabla at his best. 5 touches in Forge’s box with only two inaccurate passes and a couple of successful dribbles are the good things to point to statistically. That said, there’s still an issue with him as he comes close to being substituted. Namely, the foul he gave away in the second half where he made no attempt to try and engage defensively; barging in clumsily, and in my eyes lazily, on Daniel Parra, giving Forge a free kick in a dangerous area. That said, he’s still getting into dangerous positions in attack, and he is directing shots towards goal and that means something, regardless of their accuracy. He knows where he’s supposed to be and what he’s supposed to be doing. Some players do just need to work themselves into the season, and once Ballou gets up to full speed, this team should pull into another gear. Given how well they’ve already been playing this season, that has to be a terrifying prospect to any team in their path.
#91 Abou Sacko
(NR): Making his first CPL appearance of the season, Abou Sacko followed in his footsteps from 2023, being unable to convert a glorious chance 1 on 1 with the keeper to put home a 4th for Atletico Ottawa. With the talent we have down the left, a healthy Sacko is going to have to fight hard for minutes. With the upcoming fixture congestion, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a few more minutes on Wednesday or next Sunday.
#8 Dani Morer
(7.4): If we were trying to find a replacement for the impact Zach Verhoven could make off the bench, we’ve done so by signing Dani Morer. His chemistry with Ollie Bassett working off one another down the right side of the pitch is remarkable for teammates so new to one another and was the catalyst for Atlético’s third goal of the afternoon. His skill on the ball won the free kick that saw ATO score their second as well, with a nutmeg of Malik Olawabi-Belewu. But more than that, his defensive responsibility as a right winger in important situations is key to why I rate him so highly. The biggest example of this was his dispossession of Kyle Bekker in the middle of the park, with Forge pressing forward to try and rescue the game and turning that quickly back on the counterattack. You would think that the natural right back would push the natural right winger in Kris Twardek up the field when he comes on the pitch, but Carlos Gonzalez has identified that this isn’t necessary. I think it’s a bit of a masterclass from the manager, as Morer’s presence in every phase of the game has been impressive every time he plays.
#34 Manny Aparicio
(8.2): I am confused as to how Manny Aparicio isn’t playing at a higher level. Sure, I may know deep down why this is the case, but the level he displays, week-in, week-out is above most in the Canadian Premier League. You have the goal scoring ability, and boy was that a beautiful goal, especially to have it be the first ever goal Atlético Ottawa scored against Forge at TD Place. Not just from distance but getting into dangerous spaces to create those chances as well. You have his everpresence; just by looking at the heat map you can get a sense of it but watching him get into every spot on the pitch at least once to either heed something off or generate an attack is a wonder. You also have his fortitude; he’s always going to go into challenges with 100% of his intensity. All 3 of his tackles in this game were won, and while he may have only been 30% successful in duels, the 6 defensive actions and 10 recoveries he had otherwise are invaluable from a true box-to-box midfielder. Ollie Bassett may be the straw that stirs the drink, but Manny is the cog that makes this whole machine run.
#10 Ollie Bassett
(8): Perhaps this is overrating Ollie’s individual contribution to this game, but honestly, the rest of the team looks so much better with him operating from the middle of the park than starting out on the wing. Further, playing alongside wingers who are more comfortable operating in the tight spaces of the middle of the park allows Ollie to drift out wide and not be overwhelmed with teammates occupying the same space, thereby increasing the threat towards the Forge goal even further. The free kick that led to Zapater’s insurance marker was the type of delivery we expect to see from Ollie in dangerous situations and is further cementing the team’s ability to be massive threats from set pieces. Add to that a 91% pass accuracy and the creator you would want your most attacking midfielder to be is starting to flourish. Is he still not exceptional in his defensive duties? Yes. That’s not what we play him for however, and any positive element that can be gleaned from that is going to set the bar even higher for Ollie going forward.
#33 Abou Sissoko
(7.3): There are two blemishes on what was a performance that went above and beyond from Abou Sissoko in defensive midfield. The first was his decision to shoot after dribbling from his own defensive third to the top of Forge’s 18 yard-box with an open Ballou Tabla to his right. The other was his yellow card he picked up for seemingly being the victim of an unnecessary challenge from Kyle Bekker. Otherwise, I have nothing but praise for Abou’s work as the defensive midfielder against Forge. The stat that will stand out for anyone is his perfect pass accuracy. The important thing is that these passes weren’t all sideways or backwards, there were progressive ideas in how he was playing the ball forward, and he was rewarded with an assist from his simple layoff to Manny Aparicio prior to his goal. That he also won 4 of 5 duels on top of that and just made life really difficult for the Forge midfield, which has so often overrun our own. Maybe it’s because it was his former team that he looked to level up his game, or maybe this is just his standard in this role. This is the Abou Sissoko that I want to see from now on, he was great today, and he should be able to carry this momentum forward no problem.
#21 Alberto Zapater
(7.1): I had mentioned earlier in the season that I wasn’t 100% sold on Zapater coming off the bench in limited minutes. I had brought up the concern that he needs to be playing into the game to be at his best, and otherwise could be just a step behind in certain situations he otherwise wouldn’t be. Well, aren’t I wrong. Within five minutes of coming onto the pitch, Ollie Basset’s free kick found Alberto’s head and was directed into the back of the Forge goal. A third on the season in all competitions for the defensive midfielder is not something I had foreseen, nor do I think anyone else had either. The rest of his performance is just standard stuff from the veteran, helping maintain a second consecutive clean sheet for Rayane Yesli, and frustrating Tristan Borges and David Choiniere in tight spaces. I’m happy that Liberman Torres has arrived to lift some of the weight off Zapater’s shoulders going forward, but I’m equally as happy that he can rotate with Sissoko while Torres gets to match fitness and the team loses nothing for it.
#22 Matteo de Brienne
(7.4): Given how exciting Matteo can be on the ball and in the final third, his defensive work always brings a smile to my face. 8 defensive actions don’t do justice to how energetic and important Matteo has been in containing the opposition’s right wing. These numbers also don’t point out the speed at which he is able to recover, making use of every bit of his pace to track down passes and dribble attempts from the opposition. It’s a skill set we’ve not had at left back in spades, with Abou Sacko’s brief appearances in the role as the one exception, and when combined with his technique, makes for a complete left back that threatens at every level. Yes, there were a couple of moments where he played a bit too quickly for my liking, including a giveaway late in the first half that Forge could not capitalize on, but this is minor in the grand scheme of things. It’s another standout showing from the local product, something that can’t be stressed enough with respect to the value it brings to growing this sport in this community.
#5 Luke Singh
(7.7): I have heard some discussion about whether or not Luke Singh should be making way for other defenders alongside Amer Didic. While I understand the want to have Tyr Walker step into the first team, for additional u21 minutes, to rotate and give rest to our starters, as well as being impressed with his performances last year, Luke has grown into this season incredibly over the last three weeks. He was a rock in the back Saturday afternoon, and there should not be a debate as to who should be the first choice left centre back after this. Important clearances and recoveries at every stage of the game, whether when up 1-0 or up 3-0 show a commitment throughout the match to keep the same winning mentality. To add on to that, Luke had a successful game in terms of distribution, with 6 of 9 accurate long balls and 1 key pass, culminating in the complete performance Luke can deliver. Even better, no fouls committed in 90 minutes, which means no more yellow card accumulation. Fixture congestion is my only worry after these last couple of weeks, and now I’m super comfortable whenever I see his name on the team sheet.
#55 Amer Didic
(7.7): One reason I think Luke Singh is becoming the best version of himself is because of the comfort he gets playing next to Amer Didic. His positioning is impeccable defensively and is the biggest reason that Atlético Ottawa’s defense has managed to keep 5 clean sheets in all competitions this season. His height and jumping reach make it almost impossible for opposing teams to win in the air, and this makes the crosses and corners that had been so threatening to the Atlético Ottawa goal in previous seasons of no concern to those watching. That he can do all of what he did on Saturday without committing a foul is the type of discipline required from any high-level centre back. The one sequence that sticks out in my mind is from late in the game with Daniel Parra on the ball inside the 18-yard box, Didic kept a stable base and used his size to overpower the left back without ever coming close to committing a foul before clearing the ball and ending the threat. I’m going to sound like a broken record by the end of the year talking about Didic, if only because there are only so many superlatives in the English language.
#23 Kris Twardek
(7.4): Face to face with the very dangerous Beni Badibanga, Kris Twardek did not wilt, and limited the Belgian’s impact significantly. No accurate crosses and no key passes whatsoever from a playmaker that has shown a penchant for danger since coming to the league last summer is a day to be proud of for any CPL right back. His 11 defensive actions were only surpassed by Amer Didic in this game and combining that with a positive winning % for his duels makes it a superb defensive effort by a player that has settled into his new role impeccably early this year. Going forward, Twardek continues to provide incisive runs down the right wing, even if those are often being used as dummy runs as the threat he provides does pull defenders out of the way of the ball carrier. Even still, he managed 43 touches in this game, with 84% accuracy on his passes and completed 3 of 4 long balls. It was a complete defensive effort from a spectacular defensive unit, and each of the individuals shone in their own way.
#15 Maxim Tissot
(6.5): Not really much to say about Maxim Tissot’s performance besides that he should’ve won a penalty when he was taken out by Malcolm Duncan after Kalongo made a save on Abou Sacko late on. Low activity for a left back in a game that you’re controlling late on isn’t the worst thing, and nothing about his positioning stood out as particularly worrisome. More often than not, if you don’t remember a game from a defender, it’s probably a good thing because the mistakes stick out more often than not.
#99 Rayane Yesli
(7): The fact that all of Forge’s shots came from inside the 18-yard box would normally provide some worry, but with Yesli in goal, I have the same amount of comfort that I have with our present defensive starters. This isn’t to say that Nathan Ingham doesn’t provide that, but more that the number 2 has come in and done as good a job, if not better, than the presumed number 1 goalkeeper is a godsend for all ATO fans. The fun little time-wasting moments were a pleasure on Saturday as well, as Yesli’s ability to take every single second possible before picking up the ball throughout the second half brought a smile to my face. A second consecutive clean sheet for Yesli and 3rd in his last 4 games, job well done from a keeper that is going to make it tough on Carlos Gonzalez once Nathan Ingham is healthy.
With a quarter of the season now behind us, we turn our attention to a vital second leg of the Voyageur’s Cup quarterfinals against Pacific. They will be tough to break down, as we’ve seen from 180 minutes of football already this month, but we have the players to do it. A comprehensive result like this one probably isn’t in the offing, due to the nature of cup football and the fixture congestion requiring us to fly to Pacific on such a time crunch, but a win is something we want. We’ve yet to face an MLS side in our trips through the Voyageur’s Cup, and this is something I think every ATO fan wants to see. Beating Pacific is the first step, and while we may still draw Forge in the Semis if we do win, that just means we’ve got one more hurdle to clear. My confidence in this team is growing, if you couldn’t tell, and maybe, just maybe, that might come back to bite me. But hey, if you can’t go over the top for the team you love, who can you do it for?
About Patrick
Having joined CCSG in 2022, Patrick started his footie career playing at the age of 4 and began watching the pros around the same time. While the first pro team he supported was Manchester United, as soon as Atlético Ottawa came to town, he was immediately on board. His wealth of footy knowledge has been a constant asset, along with his role as caretaker for Atléti Wikipedia pages.
