The Forward Press for Match day 20 vs Cavalry FC: Breaking Records and Breaking Streaks
After a grueling week on the road that took the team across three cities and time zones in just seven days – culminating in back-to-back losses, including a deflating defeat to Vancouver FC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship – Atlético Ottawa returned to TD Place on August 23rd eager to right the ship. Facing Cavalry FC, who were coming off a high-scoring match, the 2-2 draw didn’t start as planned, with ATO trailing by 2 at the half. But a spirited second-half comeback left supporters buzzing. With a crucial home stretch now underway, head coach Diego Mejía’s pre-match remarks, along with striker Samuel Salter’s post-match perspective – fresh off setting a club record – revealed a team full of belief, resilience, and hunger. Without further ado, he’s everything Mejía and Salter had to say.
Naturally, the challenges of the previous week were top of mind for the media heading into the match against Cavalry. Mitchell Tierney of CanPL.ca opened by asking how the team intended to regroup after back-to-back losses. Mejía offered a grounded yet optimistic response:
“If you are a soccer player, or if you are a coach, and you live in this sport, and you don’t know how to live with the losses, you cannot [keep living the game]. It’s the most important part of the game; for us it’s [an] opportunity to learn. We are ready to fight for our goals, we are alive, we need to win, we need to try to get some points . . . and I am [sure] that we will come back in the cup.”
Tierney noted that Atléti has “picked up a solid amount of points so far this season against Cavalry” and pressed Mejía what he expects from the Calgarians, especially after their wild 9-goal match against Vancouver FC. The coach recognized Cavalry’s attacking threat, but pointed to their defensive vulnerabilities as well: “[Cavalry] score a lot of goals, but they concede a lot of goals too”. While recognizing the quality of the reigning champions, Mejía stressed the importance of staying true to ATO’s own identity: “We respect Cavalry a lot, they are the champions of this league, and they have really good players, they have a really good coach, they have history. So, we have to [approach] this match with a lot of energy, with a lot of respect for our rival, and we need to play in our way to try to beat them.”
In a similar vein, Atlético Ottawa’s head coach was asked by Ollie Platt of CanPL.ca whether “anything needs to change” following the last two poor performances. Mejía firmly dismissed the notion that drastic adjustments were needed, responding:
“No, why? Just because we lost a couple of matches? No, because if you analyze the matches, we are better than the [opposition] in both matches. We had 80% of the possession against Vancouver, and then we had the same shots on goal as Forge had at their home. Its time to adjust [within] the same way we play, because that [has given] us the opportunity to live [many] weeks at the top of the table, and I think that it's the way that the team knows, and we try to push the same way, and we need to try to execute better, and I am very [confident] that this is the model we need to play to win matches.”
His response reflects the firm belief in the team’s current identity – something Mejía has reiterated ad nauseam. It’s not about changing the system, but trusting the process, the coaches, and the players to get it right. He remained adamant that ATO will stick to its style because, as he put it, all teams lose eventually – “even Forge will lose games this season . . . because it’s football”.
In the lead-up to the match, Tierney asked for an update on player availability, pointing out the absence of Loïc Cloutier in the previous match. Mejía responded optimistically, saying he “believe[s] all will be available for the match”; but that optimism didn’t translate to the matchday lineup. Usual backline starters Cloutier and Noah Abatneh were sidelined, joining Amer Didić on the injury list. In the post-match conference, Mejía acknowledged the challenge, praising the squad’s adaptability as they “play[ed] with a new line of five, practically”, and quickly commended the replacements, saying they “are incredible”. With crucial matches ahead and key defender Sergei Kozlovsky called up to the Canada’s U-17 Men’s National Team from August 30th to September 10th, there is pressure to see these three defenders back to full strength.
Diego Mejía was joined by Sam Salter in the post-match conference, where focus was rightfully on the striker, who was honoured ahead of kickoff for becoming Atlético Ottawa’s all-time leading goal scorer. He was presented with a commemorative plaque and a congratulatory message from former teammate and previous record holder, Ollie Bassett. Asked by Mike Laviole for his reaction to the moment, Salter responded with humility and pride: “Honestly, I’m very proud to share this moment with the supporters, my family, so I’m very proud, very happy.” He also spoke warmly about hearing from Bassett.
Head coach Diego Mejía offered glowing praise in Spanish, highlighting Salter’s professionalism and impact, as he closes the gap on the CPL all-time lead: “He is the best center forward in this league . . . He is a professional who is perfectly clear about what he wants, and I am very happy for everything he is experiencing. I hope we can help him achieve this personal award, because it also becomes a team award.”
Later, Salter was asked what message he would share with young fans – and with his own eight-year-old self – who dream of being in his position. Salter responded with heart: “If you’re passionate about something, work towards [it] with everything you’ve got . . . [they] need to commit to their dreams, commit to their passions, and keep the energy positive, keep [in] good spirits”. He closed with a reminder of what drives it all: “At the end of the day it's just football. We all play football because we love football, and that’s why we started in the first place”.
That said, attention quickly shifted to the draw, with AJ Jakubec of TSN 1200 asking about the team’s belief in mounting a comeback against such a strong opponent – drawing parallels to similar fightbacks earlier in the season. Salter emphasized the squad’s unwavering self-belief, pointing to their offensive and defensive qualities and their collective mindset. He called the comeback a reflection of the team’s resilience and unity, sharing: “We are there for each other and we will keep pushing until the final whistle”.
TSN’s Gord Smith followed up by asking what was said at halftime to spark the second-half response. Salter explained that the message was simple but effective: “just to keep going, to continue what we did in the first half, keep the energy high.” He added, “we knew that we would get some chances eventually – and we did. In the end it's unlucky we couldn’t get the win, but I think it just shows the character we have, to never give up until the final whistle.”
Coach Mejía later expanded on the halftime talk in Spanish, saying he felt the team had played a strong first half despite a few small errors. His focus, he explained, was on reinforcing their confidence, encouraging more bravery in possession, and pressing higher up the pitch to limit Cavalry’s counterattacks.
The question of playing style resurfaced post-match referring back to Mejia’s insistence in the pre-match presser that the team wouldn’t abandon its identity. Mike Laviole asked Salter in French if there was still a desire to play more direct at times. Salter acknowledged the need for balance: “Yeah, I think in certain parts of the game it’s obvious that we have players that can play a little more direct, but we also need to vary the moments . . . it’s about finding the right moments.” This tactical awareness was on full display in the second half, where Ottawa’s adjustments paid off and we saw Salter take advantage of a moment to score the team’s first. When TSN’s Jakubec asked what changed after halftime, Mejía credited the players’ understanding of the structure and their freedom to execute: “When you watch a team that you try to fix and they understand the structure really well, you as a coach say the job is done . . . I never plan a match thinking for a draw, but I am very happy with the behaviour of my team.”
Looking ahead to next week’s clash against last-place Vancouver FC, coach Mejía was reminded that his team remains unbeaten at home this season and was asked whether they’re mentally prepared for the possibility of that streak ending. Mejía dismissed the idea of playing with fear, reiterating his steadfast focus on the present. “We never think about losing a game,” he stated, underlining the team’s commitment to its long-term goals and continued improvement. While acknowledging the challenges of working with a young squad learning to manage pressure and emotions, he stressed that developing a resilient mindset is just as important as tactics – and he remains confident that if they keep pushing, the rewards will come.
The importance of playing at home was a recurring theme throughout both the pre- and post-match conversations, echoing a sentiment deeply rooted in Atlético Ottawa’s identity this season. Ahead of the match, when asked by Platt about the advantage of a run of home fixtures, Mejía emphasized how crucial it is – not just tactically, but emotionally. “This league has a lot of travel, a lot of kilometres,” he said, “so we have the opportunity to play a lot of matches at home, to play with our supporters, to stay with our families, to train at our facilities . . . for sure it’s more comfortable for us.”
That connection to the home crowd was echoed after the final whistle when he responded to Benedict Rhodes’ question by highlighting the atmosphere they’ve built at TD Place. “We create this environment for the fans, for us the fans are the most important part of our team”. Salter mirrored those sentiments, sharing that “the support here is always amazing, the crowd tonight was electric, so it’s always a pleasure to play at home.”
In addition to his praise for the home fans, Mejía made it clear: “We will push all the energy to try to win the next two matches, and still fight for the shield”. With the second leg of the Canadian Championship looming, he reassured that, “we will come back in the cup”. While there’s still some time before that vital rematch, the team now has a chance to redeem themselves as they face Vancouver FC this Saturday, August 30th at TD Place. Kickoff is at 7 PM – come bring the energy and join us for Fiesta Night!
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 looks forward to international competitions, supporting both Canada and the Netherlands.
