Final Regular Season Match and Farewell to Max Tissot Ends in a Frustrating Draw
In the final regular season match on October 19th, Atlético Ottawa faced Vancouver FC, a battle that ended in a 0-0 draw. Despite the valiant efforts – Ottawa Ottawa recorded 4 shots on target out of 8, while Vancouver managed just 3 from 18 – neither team secured the victory they desperately wanted. The visitors were vying for the final playoff spot, while Ottawa was looking to continue celebrating two key pre-match moments: the presentation of the Golden Scarf to Amer Didić by CCSG member Patrick Gibson, a deserving recognition of Didić’s unwavering commitment and defensive prowess, and a sentimental tribute to football legend Maxim Tissot in one of his final matches before retirement. They were also looking to nick second place from Cavalry in the event of the Calgary-based side slipping up, which would have given them much needed playoff leeway as well as a better shot at securing Champions League football next season. Unfortunately, the teams shared a point in a match marred by controversial refereeing decisions, leaving players and supporters frustrated.
Ottawa kicked off the match with high hopes, but early tension filled the air when Mikaël Cantave’s cross to Kadin Chung rolled harmlessly through Atléti’s box, snagged by Matteo de Brienne in the 2nd minute, sparing Ottawa from immediate disaster. They soon created their first chance when Dani Morer set up Ollie Bassett for a cross into Vancouver’s area – Morer attempted a strike on target, but Rocco Romeo thwarted him, leaving Bassett to recover the ball, and Ottawa pressed on, desperately seeking to break through the defense, but with little luck until the 13th minute.
At this point, fans were on the edge of their seats ready to celebrate as Rubén Del Campo maneuvered past Romeo and approached Callum Irving’s near post. Under pressure from James Cameron, Del Campo attempted a shot that deflected off Cameron and forced Irving to dive and palm the ball out for a corner. The ensuing corner was defended out for another, and this time de Brienne swung the ball in towards goal, David Norman headed it away, and it landed at Del Campo’s feet. He volleyed it, and although Irving got a touch, the sheer power behind it sent the ball into the net. The stadium began celebrating only for the joy to be crushed moments later as the goal was disallowed for offside, with Manny Aparicio interfering with the play on the goalie’s line. Had it counted, Del Campo would have drawn Tobias Warschewski for the Golden Boot.
Nathan Ingham made his first catch in the 20th minute, collecting a long, overshot pass intended for Alejandro Díaz at the edge of the box. Just seconds later, Irving mirrored his counterpart with a similar save. In the 21st minute, Ollie Bassett lofted a ball over Vancouver’s defenders for Morer running up to the 10-yard line. He attempted a header but was flagged offside as Irving came off his line to collect it. Ottawa maintained pressure and in the 29th minute Salter’s distant shot bounced once before landing in Irving’s grasp, just out of reach of a charging Aparicio intending to get a foot to the ball.
With the half favoring the home team up to this point, Vancouver began ramping up the pressure. In the 33rd minute, Cantave crossed into the box, where Tyr Walker ran in and skillfully blocked the shot. Ottawa had cleared the immediate danger, but Vancouver quickly regained control, Renan Garcia eventually intercepting a pass intended for Bassett. Garcia unleashed a long shot that required Ingham to dive left, marking the first shot on target of the match, made more challenging by the sun glaring into his eyes. Moments later, Gabriel Bitar sent a long-range shot just wide of the net, with Ingham diving once again, this time as a precaution.
In the 38th minute, Cantave delivered another cross from the left flank to meet the head of Garcia, who guided the ball wide of the frame. As the first half neared its end, Cameron launched a long throw-in into Ottawa’s box in the 42nd minute. Didić’s header didn’t clear the danger, and the ball fell to Cantave, who unleashed a shot that was luckily deflected by Walker out for a corner. Finally, just before the whistle, a foul on Cantave in a dangerous area saw Vasco Fry take a free kick that landed in the top netting of Ottawa’s goal, ending a half filled with near misses.
Vancouver kicked off the second half with renewed energy, both teams igniting the intensity after a quieter first half. Just 30 seconds in, the visitors earned a free kick on the left flank of Ottawa’s end. Bitar swung the ball towards goal, but it was swiftly cleared. Moments later, he floated the ball back into Ottawa’s box, where Romeo headed it on target. Ingham sprang into action, parrying the shot, while Jésus Del Amo cleared the danger.
Ottawa surged forward in the 51st minute, with Bassett picking up a loose ball, carried it into the box, and attempted a shot, but it was deflected by Norman. De Brienne was first to the rebound, volleying it past the face of the net. Not a minute later, Ottawa regained possession from the goal kick and attacked again. A quick pass from Salter to Del Campo set up de Brienne for another attempt, this time forcing Irving to leap high and push the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
Determined to break the deadlock, Ottawa kept pressing and after the initial corner was cleared, Bassett retrieved the ball and passed it back to Morer, who delivered a cross. Salter directed his header towards goal, but it floated right into Irving’s hands for an easy save. Unfortunately for Ottawa, most of their shots went directly to Irving, as seen again in the 61st minute when Aparicio’s chipped ball for Salter was headed straight on, an action repeated in the 89th minute and once more in the third minute of added time. Vancouver also saw their share of similar shots, like Bitar’s strike in the 53rd minute.
As the clock ticked on, the action continued, but the shots were thwarted by the defenders before they could pose a threat. It wasn’t until the 72nd minute that an opportunity arose, when Olivier Rommens and Díaz passed back and forth until Rommens found himself unmarked in the box. He shot towards the near post, forcing Ingham to dive and deflect the ball out for a corner. Rommens went on to take a long-range shot in the 79th minute that went wide, followed by another in the 81st that lacked precision.
Then came a controversial moment in the 82nd minute that could have changed the game. Aparicio surged into Vancouver’s penalty area and, though tapping the ball a bit too hard, still managed to reach it first, only to be clipped by Romeo during a slide tackle. Despite the seemingly clear foul (at least to Ottawa fans) denying Aparicio a goal-scoring opportunity, the referee awarded a goal kick instead. Bassett received a yellow card for dissent following the call, while Vancouver clamored for a simulation card for Aparicio, one that would have seen him ejected from the game due to a first yellow picked up in the first half. Vancouver did not get their wish and the match resumed.
Ottawa didn’t let the setback deter them, and in the 84th minute, following a substitution, Ballou Tabla sent a ball through for Kevin Dos Santos, whose near-post shot was blocked. Aparicio regained possession and aimed for goal, but it deflected off a Vancouver defender for a goal kick instead of a corner.
In the 86th minute Vancouver earned a free kick that Ingham swatted down and held tightly. He was tested again by a long ball from Ben Fisk in the second minute of added time and by Rommens, with both shots going directly to the keeper.
With the final minute of added time coming to a close, Díaz took a chance, but was blocked by Didić, allowing Ottawa to clear their end and just 10 seconds past added time, Ilias Iliadis launched a long ball towards Del Campo, who managed to stay onside, but outrun Vancouver’s last line of defense. This set up a thrilling 1-on-1 situation with Irving, who was far out of his area. Just as the stadium buzzed with anticipation for a potential game-winning strike, the referee’s whistle pierced the air, ending the match.
Fans erupted in protest as players stormed the field in frustration, and the referee team was escorted off the field, marking a bitter end to a fiercely contested battle. Although the result didn’t alter playoff standings for Ottawa, as Cavalry had won anyways, it left a sour taste for supporters who had hoped for Del Campo to claim the Golden Boot and for a triumphant conclusion to a challenging end of season run.
Next up for Atlético Ottawa is the first playoff match at TD Place on October 27th at 1 PM. Excitement builds as we await the results of the October 23rd match between York United and Pacific FC – the winner will face Ottawa for a chance to advance to the semi-finals. They’ll go up against the victor of the Forge FC versus Cavalry FC game, also on the 27th. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action – grab your tickets and come 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, supporting both Canada and the Netherlands.
