Unlucky Number Three: Forge FC Shutout Atlético Ottawa in 3-0 Defeat

Three games lost, three points dropped, three goals scored – for the third consecutive match, Atlético Ottawa faced defeat, this time in a 3-0 shutout by Forge FC. The red-and-white stripes traveled to Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on August 10^th where a sub-par performance saw the team drop three points and their place atop the league table.

Ottawa fell behind by two goals in the first half, which didn’t raise many alarms, as the team has shown resilience and an ability to come-back in the second half when trailing. Unfortunately, they conceded a third and were unable to break through Forge’s defense, despite many efforts, marking their fifth loss of the season.

Ottawa was outmatched in the first half, managing only 4 shots to Forge’s 9. Atlético had the first opportunity in the 8^th minute off a corner from Ollie Bassett; the ball was initially cleared, but Matteo de Brienne got his foot to the volley and struck just wide of Hamilton’s net.

Forge almost capitalized on the ensuing play, but quick reflexes from Rayane Yesli and Tyr Walker kept the score level. Daniel Parra launched a long ball up the left flank to Kwasi Poku, who flicked it to Tristan Borges in the penalty arc. Borges’ first touch resulted in a powerful shot that sent Yesli diving to his left for a crucial save. Fortunately for Ottawa, the ball ricocheted off the post, and Walker was quick to clear it, preventing Poku from pouncing on the rebound.  

Continuing to press, Ottawa had another chance in the 18^th minute – Manny Aparicio, returning from suspension, threaded a pass through four Forge players into Hamilton’s box for Ballou Tabla. The striker chased the ball to the byline and attempted a central pass, but the angle was too tight, and the ball rolled down the line towards the near post, where Kalongo collected it.

It was at this moment that Forge FC seized control of the game and took the lead in the 21^st minute. Kyle Bekker fed Nana Ampomah at the edge of the penalty area, who drove the ball towards goal. Yesli dove left to parry the shot, but the ball fell loose about 10 yards from goal. Regrettably, Alberto Zapater failed to notice Borges over his shoulder, and the unmarked player ran in on the rebound. With Yesli back on his feet, Borges lifted the ball over the keeper’s head to make it 1-0.

Following Forge’s goal, Ottawa’s defense was on high alert; Walker used his body to prevent Poku’s shot in the 27^th minute, and de Brienne deflected a ball by David Choinière in the 29^th. Then in the 30^th minute, Choinière threaded a pass between Walker and Zapater to meet Poku, who carried it to the byline and crossed high for Bekker. Getting his head to it, Bekker guided the ball just over the top of the crossbar.

Ottawa patiently moved the ball around in Forge’s final third, seeking an opening to level the score. Aboubacar Sissoko found that chance with a pass to Rubén Del Campo at the edge of the penalty arc in the 38^th minute. Del Campo took a long-range shot, but it was aimed at Kalongo, who made an easy save.

Just a minute later, Ampomah received the ball from Bekker on the edge of the 18-yard line and advanced the ball through several Ottawa defenders. He took a shot that was blocked by a well-positioned Amer Didić; however, the deflected ball fell to the unmarked Borges at the top of the box. Borges wrapped his left foot round the ball, sneaking it into the bottom corner of the net to double Forge’s lead.

With Ottawa now trailing by two, they nearly conceded a third in the 41^st minute. Borges, marked by two defenders, found David Choinière open on his right. Choinière carried the ball forward and aimed for the near post, but Yesli, coming off his line, managed to block the shot as it hit the frame, much to the relief of the traveling support. Forge also had a couple of long-range attempts in the first half, such as Borges’ corner in the 20^th minute and Poku’s shot in the 44^th, both easily collected by Yesli.

Atlético Ottawa had the last opportunity of the half in the 46^th minute, when a Bassett corner reached Didić at the far post. His header was lackluster and bounced off the turf, landing safely in Kalongo’s arms. 

The second half was more of the same, as despite Ottawa managing seven additional shots compared to Forge’s three, they couldn’t break through the home team’s defense and ended up conceding a third goal.

Ottawa’s first shot on target of the half – and the Save of the Match – came in the 49^th minute. Bassett’s corner kick found Didić, who headed the ball towards the inside of the post. Kalongo, perfectly positioned, dived left to parry the ball and prevent it from going in.

Ottawa’s brief surge was short lived as Forge tested the visitors again in the 55^th minute. Following a scramble in Atlético’s end, Bassett attempted to clear the ball but inadvertently passed it to Ampomah at the top of the box. Ampomah took a shot but luckily skied it over the bar. Then, in the 59^th minute, Borges, seeking the hat trick, dribbled centrally to the top of the penalty arc and fired a shot. Yesli had to dive to redirect the ball wide of the net, conceding a corner.

Atléti’s subsequent chances were largely non-threatening. In the 64^th minute Ilias Iliadis took a long-distance shot after weaving through several defenders, but it went straight to Kalongo. Then, Aparicio tried to replicate his goal from the first match against Forge with a long-range shot in the 80^th minute, but it hit the top netting. Two minutes later, Dani Morer’s free kick missed the target, and in the 91^st minute, Del Campo’s shot from distance struck the side netting.

Forge capitalized on their final opportunity to seal a victory. In the 86^th minute, Alessandro Hojabrpour sent a long pass to Elimane Cissé alone at the top. With de Brienne and Aparicio closing in, Cissé took full advantage of his breakaway, lifting the ball over Yesli – who rushed out in an attempt to block the shot – to extend Forge’s lead to 3-0.

The 3-0 defeat underscored persistent weaknesses in the team that have emerged in recent weeks. One glaring issue is the inconsistency of the wingers, particularly on the left side. The left wing’s failure to track back and support defensive efforts left Forge players unmarked, forcing the left back to cover more ground than feasible. Additionally, the striker was positioned deeper on the field than the wingers to aid in defense.

Further compounding the problem is the team’s sluggish build-up and tendency to halt forward momentum, which gives opponents ample time to reorganize defensively. Also, forwards hesitate when engaging with aerial balls or wait for it to be controlled by the opponent before moving in. The preference for crossing into the box rather than exploiting central attacking positions has proven limiting, leading to wasted chances, especially as we saw the success of central movements with Del Campo and Iliadis’ shots on target. Finally, while quick, short passes and cutting in have previously been successful strategies, they were notably absent in this match, indicating a need for greater tactical flexibility and a more aggressive approach in the final third.

Despite these issues, several players delivered strong performances. Walker and de Brienne stood out for their vital contributions to the backline and relentless effort throughout the match. Both players made crucial tackles, like de Brienne’s sprint down three-quarters of the field to deny Ampomah a shot in the 71^st minute, showcasing his tenacity and commitment, which has earned him admiration from the supporters.

Samuel Salter and Ilias Iliadis also deserve recognition for their impactful contributions as substitutes. Iliadis provided much-needed support to de Brienne defensively, while registering shots on target and creating opportunities by cutting in centrally. Similarly, Salter injected energy into the right flank, pairing effectively with Morer to provide dynamism to a struggling team.

Atlético Ottawa is gearing up for a crucial away match on August 17^th at 6 PM EDT against Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC. In their previous clash, Pacific FC narrowly edged out a 1-0 victory, snagging all three points and currently sit in sixth place. After suffering their fifth loss of the season and dropping out of the top spot, Ottawa is hungry to bounce back. With just four points separating first from fourth, every game counts in this tight race. Don’t miss the chance to join the Capital City Supporters’ watch party at the Glebe Central Pub, as Ottawa seeks to break their poor run of form.

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.