HIGHLIGHTS: Cavalry FC vs Atletico Ottawa (August 21, 2022)

As they’ve made a habit of doing ever since they entered the CPL, Atlético Ottawa managed to get the better of Cavalry FC, nabbing a crucial 3-0 away win in their first-ever visit to ATCO Field on Sunday, re-claiming their spot atop the CPL standings in the process.

Paced by goals in either half, which sandwiched a lengthy rain delay in between, Ottawa showed why they have the strongest road record in the league right now, putting up a strong performance against the league’s strongest home team. 

Yet, it didn’t always seem like they’d be able to grab that result, as Cavalry was active early and often in this game. As a result, Cavalry nearly gave their fans something to cheer about in the 10th minute, as Joe Mason did well to find a wide-open José Escalante in the box, whose low shot would only be denied by a strong stop from Ottawa’s Nathan Ingham. 

Right after, Mason then had a good look of his own, after being set up in the box via a tidy slip pass from Daan Klomp, and he’d get a good shot off, one that forced a desperate block from  Ottawa’s Drew Beckie to save his team. 

Continuing their bright patch, Klomp then had a great look off of a nice Ali Musse corner in the 15th minute, having found himself left all alone at the penalty spot, but his glancing header just lacked the accuracy to cause any problems, sailing wide of the mark. 

Then, in the 17th minute, Musse had a good look from distance after a good set-up from Jean-Aniel Assi, but his powerful strike sailed just over the goal, much to the relief of Ingham. Not long after, Escalante would have another good look at the back post, this time off of a cross from Klomp, just narrowly sending his first-time volley wide of the mark from in-tight. 

Finally, having absorbed all of that pressure from the hosts, Ottawa nearly struck in the 34th minute. On a nice counter-attack, the ball found Carl Haworth in a dangerous position, where he’d do well to seek out Owen Antoniuk with a seeing-eye ball towards the back post, one that Antoniuk would do well to meet, although his shot would slide just wide from in-close. 

Shortly after, Maxim Tissot would have a good look for Ottawa off of a deep free kick, one he’d do well to catch all of, just narrowly catching the top of the net with his strike, putting him inches away from grabbing the lead for his team. 

Through that pressure, it’d pay off for Ottawa right before half time. After a nice spell of play, the ball fell to Keven Alemán in the box, and he unleashed a rocket, one that eluded Cavalry’s Marco Carducci and slammed into the side-netting, giving the guests a surprise lead.

Plus, it’d be a lead that they’d get to enjoy for a little longer than usual, too, as the game then entered a weather delay, one that saw the match pushed back by around an hour, essentially making the second half a whole new game. 

There, however, Ottawa would pick up right where they left off in the first half, as second-half sub, Ballou Tabla, nearly doubled their lead in the 51st minute, as he broke free towards Cavalry’s shot, but his dangerous shot would hit the crossbar and stay out, giving Cavalry a crucial lifeline in the game. 

Realizing that, Cavalry came on strong, winning a string of corners around the 58th minute, on which Escalante did well to find Karifa Yao a couple of times, although the defender’s headers sailed just over the mark on each occasion.

Soon after, however, they’d come to regret those misses, as Ottawa surged up the field nicely in the 79th minute, as Ballou Tabla did well to find Brian Wright, who delicately chipped home from close range to double his team’s lead, all but giving them the three points.  

Then, adding to their misery, Ottawa managed to make it three right at the end, as Carl Haworth slotted the ball over to Ollie Bassett for an easy goal, putting an end to Cavalry’s comeback push, while sealing a massive victory for the road side. 

That didn’t mean the game was quite over, as both Mason and Musse  nearly ruined Ottawa’s clean sheet in extra time, but other than that, they’d manage to hold on, confirming a big victory for them.

BOX SCORE

Goals

45+2′ — Keven Alemán (Atlético Ottawa) 

79′ — Brian Wright (Atlético Ottawa) 

89′ — Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa) 

Discipline

9′ — Yellow: Charlie Trafford (Cavalry FC) 

64′ — Yellow: Drew Beckie (Atlético Ottawa) 

66′ — Yellow: José Escalante (Cavalry FC) 

75′ — Yellow: Keven Alemán (Atlético Ottawa)