York United have picked up their first win under new head coach Benjamín Mora, as they defeated Atlético Ottawa 2-1 at TD Place on Saturday, snapping Ottawa’s nine-game unbeaten run in CPL play in the process.
They were made to work for it in the end, as Ottawa mounted a late push after York went up 2-0, but York managed to hold on for the win, giving them four points in two games since their managers arrival at the club earlier this month.
Orlando Botello had an early chance to open the scoring for York, as he stepped up to take a dangerous free kick following an Ottawa handball at the edge of their box, but his curled shot would be nicely saved by Ottawa’s Nathan Ingham in goal.
Then, in the 17th minute, York did well to fashion together a swift attacking move, setting up a shot at the edge of the box from Austin Ricci, but he sent his shot well over the target.
At the other end, Sam Salter nearly broke the game open in the 23rd minute, as he powered his way into the box and fired a dangerous right-footed strike, forcing a strong low stop by York’s Thomas Vincensini in goal.
From there, however, Ottawa ramped up the pressure in possession, but York held firm defensively. In fact, they held on long enough to find their opener in the 36th minute, as Ricci managed to sneak behind Ottawa’s defence to create a 2v1 with teammate Brian Wright, who he found with a nice pass, one that Wright delicately chipped over Ingham to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Eager to pull one back before half time, Ottawa came close in the 41st minute off a corner, as Ollie Bassett found Luke Singh with an outswinging ball into the box, but Singh’s header would be easily saved by Vincensini. Then, right after that, Salter had a glorious chance just before half time, firing a dangerous shot after a nice cutback from Matteo de Brienne, only finding himself denied by another Vincensini stop.
On the other side of half time, however, York then grabbed a crucial marker, as they doubled their lead. After a driving run from Max Ferrari, he played a perfect slip-pass into Ottawa’s box, finding the run of Wright, who took the ball in stride and slammed it into the near post past Ingham to make it 2-0.
Having been woken up by that second goal, Ottawa began to push. They nearly halved York’s lead in the 51st minute, too, as Ballou Tabla got on the end of a perfect low cross from Dani Morer, but Tabla’s powerful strike rattled the crossbar and stayed in play, before de Brienne forced a strong stop from Vincensini in the ensuing scramble.
Continuing to push, Alberto Zapater stepped up to take a dangerous free kick in the 61st minute, curling a powerful shot just over the crossbar with his attempt. Then, Rubén del Campo, who had just come off the bench, tried to chip Vincensini on a breakaway just a minute later, but his right-footed attempt sailed just wide of the goal.
Having ramped up the pressure, the chances continued to come for Ottawa, and they had a glorious one in the 65th minute, as Zapater found himself unmarked for a header in the box, but his shot would be right at Vincensini.
That Ottawa pressure finally paid off with a goal in the 69th minute, however. After a long throw into the box from de Brienne, the ball fell to Amer Didić, and the centre back, who is mostly known for his ability to score headers, found a way to slot the ball past Vincensini with an expert finish into the top corner.
Not satisfied with his one goal, Didić nearly puled off the spectacular in the 85th minute, too, as he fired a rocket from over 30 yards away, forcing an excellent save from Vincensini, who had to stretch out at full length to deny a spectacular goal from the Ottawa centre back.
Pushing to find a late equalizer, de Brienne came close to finding it in the 87th minute, as he curled a dangerous attempt with his right foot, yet as he had done all game long, Vincensini kept out the goal-bound effort with a strong save.
From there, however, York did what they needed to do in added time to hold on for their win, surviving a late push from the hosts, allowing them to earn their first win under their new manager.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Sissoko (Twardek 72′), Didić, Singh, de Brienne; Morer (Antinoro 72′), Zapater, Aparicio, Tabla; Salter (del Campo 61′), Bassett
York United: Vincensini; Ferrari, Abatneh, Adekugbe, Sturing, Botello; Martínez (Higgins 88′), Soumaoro (Martin-Pereux 75′), Córdova (León 88′); Ricci, Wright (Zeppieri 79′)
Goals
36′ — Brian Wright (York United)
49′ — Brian Wright (York United)
69′ — Amer Didić (Atlético Ottawa)
Discipline
50′ — Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (Atlético Ottawa)
56′ — Yellow: Orlando Botello (York United)
77′ — Yellow: Kadin Martin-Pereux (York United)
90+1′ — Yellow: Luke Singh (Atlético Ottawa)
90+3′ — Yellow: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
