CCSG Player Ratings: 2024 CPL Quarterfinal vs. York United
It was typical Atlético Ottawa, until it wasn’t. Every single trend that has fed into the story of Atlético Ottawa’s 2024 campaign was on display on Sunday afternoon: Ineffective at breaking down a low block through the first-half? Check. Janky set-piece goal direct from a corner? Check. A consistent defensive approach that essentially denies the opponent any opportunities on goal? Check. Concede on the opponent’s only shot on goal in regulation? Check. Concede late in injury time to lose a one-goal lead? Check. Score a goal within 90 seconds of the start of a half? Check. Concede essentially immediately after scoring? Check.
You’d be right in thinking that a team who had never won a penalty shootout in a competitive match would likely follow this trend. But fortunately for Atlético Ottawa, the third time was the charm, and now they are set to play Forge on Saturday after 120 minutes of heart-stopping (and -restarting) action. The work that Carlos González did with the team to prepare them for this specific scenario was on full display. Aside from the penalty shootout attempt from Rubén Del Campo, which was right down the middle, there was no way Vincensini was going to stop them from going in. Even that decision from Rubén was commendable, as he had taken a penalty in extra time and it’s always difficult to come back to the spot when the keeper has already familiarised themselves with your routine. It was made all the sweeter by the fact that the only player to miss a penalty was Mo Babouli, a player that is best characterized by his incessant whining and homophobia, and someone for whom the only emotion I have ever felt is pure ire. It was, frankly, the only poorly taken penalty of the ten shots, and directly cost his team a victory, which is a wonderful fact to be able to type. I’ve never been one to be overly vindictive in these columns, but if anyone deserves it, it’s Babouli. Anyway, let’s talk about who really matters:
#19 Rubén Del Campo
(7): Calm, cool, and collected from the penalty spot in the most high-pressure situation in his career - what a way for Rubén to perform in his first playoff game. Sure, the 20% success rate on duels is far from what you’d want to see from any player on the pitch, but the result is paramount in playoff matches, and Rubén contributed bountifully to that. He may have only found the back of the net from the spot in this game, but the four other shots he registered showed he was getting into dangerous areas which put Vincensini and the York defence on the back foot, really from the start of the game. He also made a key defensive intervention late in the second half, and really showed a commitment to all facets of the game throughout. It could be argued that if not for Oswaldo Léon pulling up with a hamstring and Marie-Soleil Beaudoin giving a cheap foul as Rubén looked through on goal, he could’ve ended the game then and there. The four fouls Rubén committed are a bit troublesome, but reflect the game state more than his individual ability. Knowing we have a striker who is so cool in these moments is a relief for everyone.
#13 Ballou Tabla
(6.8): Perhaps this wasn’t the most transformative game from Ballou Tabla, but statistically he did close to what he needed to do. Sure, you would prefer to see him have at least one created chance or more than one pass into the final third as his creativity is what makes him such a force when he is at his best, but winning more duels than he lost, taking four shots (three of which were on target) and being successful on both of the dribbles he attempted are enough to see Ballou in a positive light from this game. Next time, we need him to convert on one of those three shots on target, but at least he’s getting them at the keeper now, instead of sending them all into the stratosphere.
#9 Samuel Salter
(7.1): It’s kind of amazing that a player who has never missed a penalty in his CPL career was not one of the five men called on for the shootout. Still, Sam Salter came in at the death of regulation, only to win a penalty 12 seconds into extra time - more often than not, he finds a way to impact the game when he comes in. Two created chances and two tackles won in the 33 minutes in which he featured goes to show how he involves himself in all aspects of the game even if he is still considered a striker. If he were ever able to get his first touch under control, Salter really would take this league by storm. I have a feeling this won’t be the last we hear of him in this postseason.
#34 Manny Aparicio
(7.1): The careful and organized mood that generally fills the air of a knockout football match clashes pretty heavily with the chaos that Manny Aparicio looks to inflict on a game. The 11 defensive actions he had in this game will look great to observers initially, but then you realize that five of those were fouls. You have to live with these sorts of things from Manny, because you also get the three successful tackles, the two chances created, and the seven passes into the final third. Given the performance of his fellow midfielders in regulation, this type of performance was what Manny needed to provide. Can he get to a higher level than this, certainly. If this is the floor for what we get from Manny in the most important games of the season, I’m excited for the rest of our playoff run.
#10 Ollie Bassett
(8.2): How on earth was this man going through a crisis of confidence merely weeks ago? This was Ollie Bassett at his best, intercepting passes, finding important balls forward, and getting his set pieces into dangerous areas, eventually coming away with a goal for his efforts. His statistical profile from Sunday is a wonder - winning all four of the tackles he attempted and making three interceptions without committing a single foul is a level of midfield play beyond what I expect of the former player of the year. He’s always been a more attacking-minded player, but when he plays in a well-rounded manner like this, it makes the case that he should be getting an opportunity at a higher level. His attacking numbers aren’t anything to scoff at either, with eight passes into the final third, two chances created, and accurate crosses/long balls at a rate that exceeds his averages for the year. There is so much to love from him today, and it’s hard to think that any team can beat an ATO where Ollie is driving the play like he did on Sunday. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we conceded only after he left the pitch.
#33 Abou Sissoko
(8): As great as Ollie Bassett was on Sunday, the level that Abou Sissoko showed next to him may have been just as impressive. I’ve stressed this season that Sissoko is a high-floor, low-ceiling player, in that he isn’t going to transform games but the level of consistency he demonstrates is enough to anchor a midfield around. Sometimes, though, he smashes through that low ceiling, and in this game, it was almost entirely doing the dirty work. The number that will stand out above all others is the six free kicks he won in 90 minutes. Whenever York was pressing, he found a way to calm the game down and put his body on the line to grind the pace to a halt. He may have only completed 81% of his passes, but that defensive work, including a staggering 12 of 17 ground duels won, more than makes up for it. Ollie has deservedly received the plaudits for a high-quality, all-around performance, but Sissoko was right there with him in the middle of the park.
#21 Alberto Zapater
(7): The confidence that Alberto Zapater oozed as he stepped up to take the fourth penalty of the shootout for Atlético Ottawa is aspirational. No one in Canada watching that game thought he would miss, and there was no goalkeeper on earth that was going to get a hand to that penalty. He wasn’t called on to do much despite playing 41 minutes, but three defensive actions in that time frame still shows that he was involved. Ultimately, my issue with the change wasn’t bringing in Alberto, but shifting Sissoko to right wing-back when he had been so effective in the middle of the park. Having a veteran like Alberto to come in and close out games should produce great results, but if it means reworking an effective unit, is it really worth it?
#96 Ilias Iliadis
(7): Ilias Iladis, you are now forever first. The first shootout-winning penalty in CPL playoff history was a strongly taken left-footed effort to Thomas Vincensini’s left. Nothing else from his 30 minutes on the pitch really matters, as he only managed 17 touches, one defensive action, and one contested duel (which he lost). None of that matters more than 24 hours later, as the joy and relief that his winning strike brought to the 4,600+ in attendance has never been felt in Ottawa before. This was the first penalty shootout win for Atlético Ottawa and in professional soccer in this city. Iliadis’ role has diminished in recent weeks, but for us ATO sickos, he’ll be burned in our minds forever.
#22 Matteo de Brienne
(7.2): You can look at the numbers all you want with Matteo, the pass accuracy being sub 70% might be concerning, the 33% duel success rate is unfortunate, and the couple of fouls without winning any free kicks himself given his physical ability is frustrating (although a full-on shove from Nyal Higgins early in the first half more than likely should’ve earned a spot kick for ATO); but his performances always go beyond that. Eight recoveries and four clearances without being dribbled past goes to show that even in a difficult individual game, Matteo can still get back to where he needs to be. The physicality carries his play, and at this level it’s exactly what you want from a young player - if he can harness that supreme physical talent into something more, the sky’s the limit for the Ottawa native.
#3 Jesús Del Amo
(6.6): It’s somewhat astounding to see a defender play 120 minutes and not register a single defensive action. Combine that with the ten recoveries Del Amo made in this game, and it’s incredibly confusing to evaluate, as it suggests he was either wildly out of position or the collective was doing a great job of driving play away from him. Regardless, he was effective as an outlet when York was putting pressure on the ball early on, remaining calm and completing 91% of the passes he attempted. One would hope that Del Amo wouldn’t need to get more involved in the game, but if asked I do hope his defensive work will be effective rather than the less-than-perfect play we’ve seen in this position this season.
#55 Amer Didic
(7.5): When Amer sent that shot careening off the crossbar late in the first half of extra time, my heart sank. For a player that had been so crucial to the successes we enjoyed this season to not make that chance count was terrifying as another half of extra time loomed. It particularly stung as the ball drifted slightly over his head minutes earlier on the cross that Mo Babouli turned home for York’s second goal. Besides that, Amer was the rock we’ve come to know and love. His success rate on duels was 83%, and he managed four clearances, two interceptions, and a crucial block without committing a single foul. This game marks the sixth consecutive game in which Amer has not picked up a yellow card and the third straight game in which he’s not committed a foul. When the expectations are so high, it’s hard to meet them so consistently, unless you’re Amer Didic.
#4 Tyr Walker
(7.1): His distribution was not up to snuff this week, registering only a 78% pass accuracy from centre back, but Tyr Walker was his usual self in one-on-one defensive situations. Tyr won nine of the 14 duels he contested and had two tackles with a block and clearance to buff up his defensive statistics. An unfortunate ricochet when he dispossessed a York player caused the build-up for the Nine Stripes’ second goal of the day will likely be a mark against the young defender, but it shouldn’t be on too many minds after the result went our way. Tyr is well ahead of his age in terms of his ability to contest individuals in defence, it’s the rest of his game that needs polishing. For the CPL though, he’s proven to be an extremely tough out, and will be looking to shut down Forge on Saturday.
#8 Dani Morer
(6.3): Much like last week, Morer was all over the place as the right wing-back. He also picked up an unnecessary early yellow that hampered his ability to defend and play physically. The defensive work he did was not as bad as it was last week, this time winning three duels of eight contested while also winning the only tackle he attempted. For a player with such technical aptitude, a 78% pass accuracy feels far too low, and his inability to get crosses into dangerous areas is concerning as it was a key feature of his game earlier in the season. I’d still prefer Kris Twardek get the look at right wing-back next week, unless he’s not at full fitness, which has been a concern at points this season.
#15 Maxim Tissot
(NR): Scoring a penalty in his final professional game in Ottawa has to be a wonderful memory for the veteran left-back. His set piece-taking has been the shining light of his play over the last three seasons, and so it’s fitting that the final kick he takes at TD Place punctuates that mark even further.
#23 Kris Twardek
(6.6): Playing only extra time, Kris Twardek registered four defensive actions, won all three of the tackles he made, and won 66% of his duels. Now imagine how much better that would look if he were to have played a much bigger part in terms of minutes. I have been frustrated with Dani Morer in recent weeks, and I can’t imagine Carlos González making a change with the XI as it stands, but Twardek showed enough in those last thirty minutes that suggest he probably should. If he could just get one cross onto a teammate’s head in the box, maybe then it would make the decision for the manager.
#29 Nathan Ingham
(7): For the third time in the last six games, Nathan Ingham conceded goals from the opposing team’s only shots on target. Again, he is nowhere close to blame for anything that happened in the lead-up to penalties. He managed his box very well in the 120 minutes of open play, having to deal with the unpredictable wind that gusted through TD Place on Sunday afternoon. When he got a chance to make a save against the opponent, he took his opportunity. Going down to his left to stop Mo Babouli, Ingham further endeared himself to the Atléti faithful, as if that was even possible. There were questions throughout the year about his status as the club’s number one, but the stretch run has affirmed it and then some.
And now we take the bus down to Hamilton. We have played well against Forge this season, but we’ve also played terribly against them. No one at this stage of the season is going to overlook anyone, but given Forge haven’t scored in 324 minutes and Atléti have beaten them three times this year, there might be more optimism than is entirely warranted, as the core of this Forge team is still the same core that has made every single CPL final to date. They have played in more of these games than anyone else, and while the veteran presence of this team may have us better prepared for the difficult games than we would’ve been last year, this is still the team to beat in CPL playoff competition. We’ve enjoyed our first-ever home playoff win, and now it’s time to refocus ourselves on the task ahead for Saturday. This may be my eternal pessimism shining through, but I’m not expecting much, and am more than willing to be pleasantly surprised at the final whistle on Saturday, whether I’m in Hamilton or at the Glebe Central Pub.
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 footie knowledge has been a constant asset, along with his role as caretaker for Atléti Wikipedia pages.
