HIGHLIGHTS: Atlético Ottawa vs. Valour FC (July 9, 2023)

Atlético Ottawa picked up an important three points at TD Place on Sunday, beating Valour FC 2-0 in the nation’s capital.

Fans of the home side were treated to an early glimpse of what their new signing Rubén del Campo can do in the 15th minute, as the Switzerland youth international got in behind the Valour backline after a pass forward over the top. Del Campo fired a left-footed shot from a tight angle, but missed high of the target.

Andrew Jean-Baptiste, making his first start of the season after missing a large chunk of the campaign thus far through injury, nearly gave Valour the lead a couple of minutes later. He attacked a corner kick and won the ball in the air, but couldn’t keep his header down, watching it sail just over the crossbar.

Valour were on the front foot early on, but it was Ottawa that would find the game’s first goal. After Anthony Novak kicked birthday boy Carl Haworth in the penalty area, Ollie Bassett stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal. It’s Bassett’s second match in a row with a penalty goal, and his sixth goal of the season as he ties Vancouver FC’s Shaan Hundal for second in the Golden Boot race, one back of Cavalry FC’s Myer Bevan.

Ottawa came close to scoring again late in the half, but some desperate defending under pressure from Valour saw the ball stay out. Bassett hit the target with an initial shot, but June Goalkeeper of the Month Rayane Yesli kept it out. The rebound was headed on goal by del Campo, but Andrew Jean-Baptiste did well to get his body in front of it and block it, before Yesli made the save on a third shot, this one from Aboubakary Sacko,

Valour came agonizingly close as well moments later. Matteo de Brienne crossed the ball into the box for Pacifique Niyongabire, but the Burundi international couldn’t put the ball into the back of the net — his header had Nathan Ingham beat, but the ball struck the outside the post. Niyongabire had an opportunity to score for Valour about 15 minutes after halftime as well, but his left-footed shot from close range hit the side netting from a position where at least testing the goalkeeper was expected.

Kian Williams fired a rocket of a shot at Nathan Ingham in the 68th minute that looked destined for the top right corner of the Ottawa net. Ingham was able to react well turn it away, before popping back to his feet and catching a follow up cross.

Ottawa were left frustrated twice in the 71st minute as they looked to extend their lead. First, Sam Salter twisted and turned to open up a lane for himself to shoot, but fired his shot right at Yesli, before Sacko couldn’t keep his effort down after running onto a beautifully-weighted pass through a pair of defenders from Ollie Bassett. Sacko had another great chance to score in the 78th minute, rounding Yesli before getting an opportunity to get a shot on goal, but Andy Baquero put his body on the line and blocked the shot to prevent Ottawa from doubling their advantage.

Pushing for that second goal, Ottawa had five opportunities in about three minutes to put the ball into the back of the net, but Rayane Yesli stood his ground. He made saves on Malcolm Shaw, Bassett, and Sacko again — and also got a bit of help from a defender blocking a shot and Bassett striking the post.

Ottawa finally found another breakthrough in stoppage time, as Zach Verhoven put the game to bed. The second half substitute ran onto a great pass over the top from Haworth, before calmly firing his shot into the bottom left corner of the net to put the game to bed. It sealed a big three points for his side, who jump from eighth up to sixth in the CPL table.