RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Atlético Ottawa topple York United in thrilling CanChamp QF
After another exhilarating chapter in the rivalry between York United and Atlético Ottawa, the capital city club are moving on to the TELUS Canadian Championship semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Both sides produced highlight-reel moments in this game with six goals between them, but in the end Sam Salter was the hero for Atleti as they struck late to advance, 6-4 on aggregate.
This game was set up to be a chess match from the very beginning, as both managers deployed similar 3-4-2-1 formations. It was clear, however, that York would be early aggressors; with Ottawa up 2-1 on aggregate entering the match, York knew they needed a goal to draw level.
The Nine Stripes showed a desire to play direct, vertical ball through Atleti's midfield, which bore fruit in just the 13th minute. In a play that started from the back, featuring a lovely sequence of four passes from the defence through midfield to Julian Altobelli, who received Kembo Kibato's through ball and finished superbly to make it 2-2 on aggregate.
York's happiness didn't last long, though.
A handful of catastrophic moments soon befell them in the next 15 minutes: first, Elijah Adekugbe tried to dribble out of his penalty area but coughed up the ball to Sam Salter, who knocked it forward for David Rodríguez to score in an open goal.
Two minutes later, Salter himself found the back of the net: this time York keeper Ivan Pavela pushed away Rodríguez's curled strike but it landed kindly for Salter to bury and give Atleti a two-goal lead on aggregate.
As if York needed another punch in the gut, they received one in the 26th minute. Salter chased a long ball over the top, attempting to outrun Adekugbe, who grappled with the Ottawa striker and ultimately pulled him down. Referee Sebastian Noshinravani deemed Adekugbe to have been the last man back, and showed him a red card.
So, York United found themselves two goals and a man down with 60 minutes left in the tie.
Emboldened by that adversity though, York carried on and played even more direct. Before halftime, Kibato again progressed the ball forward with a good run through midfield. He found Ferrin just behind Atleti's backline, and Ferrin played it smartly across the box to Altobelli, who smashed it into the open goal to give York a lifeline.
York came into the second half still full of belief after finishing the first 45 so well. Soon enough, another direct ball brought joy for them. This time, it was Steffen Yeates who sent a glorious ball from deep in his own half to Ferrin to run onto between Ottawa's centre-backs, and after a deft touch to bring it down he struck the ball between Ingham's legs, suddenly putting York back on level footing.
Photo: Denys Rudenko, York United
Having lost their captain and the anchor of their back three so early in the game, York were forced to adjust their shape, moving to a 4-4-1 with a more traditional four-man defence. That allowed their transition to be somewhat seamless; York were well-organized in the second half, knowing that Ottawa would have most of the ball. York were patient and kept their shape, as Atleti moved the ball around in hopes that a York player would bite and leave his space.
Just five minutes before penalties, when the game seemed destined to be settled at the spot, Atlético produced one final moment. After a York clearance didn't make it out of their half, Rodríguez brought the ball down and tried to chip it into an open goal. York defender Frank Sturing made an outstanding goal-line clearance, but it fell perfectly in the box for Salter.
Ottawa's best goalscorer made absolutely no mistake, and a thunderous strike found the back of the net, making it 5-4 on aggregate.
Aboubacar Sissoko added one more for Ottawa with a screamer in stoppage time to seal the deal, and Atleti left Toronto with all the spoils, and a ticket booked to the semis.
After the game, York manager Mauro Eustáquio was at terms with the loss; in fact, he was pleased with the fight his team showed while trailing and playing with 10 men, putting Ottawa under pressure. In his opinion, York were their own worst enemy, making mistakes in crucial moments. They had chances to clear the ball before several of the goals, plus they were playing a man down early.
Atleti coach Diego Mejía's reaction postmatch was muted, which reveals some of his mentality with his team this year. He expects excellence from them, and advancing to the semi-final is an accomplishment to be sure, but also just one step on the journey he wants them to take.
Certainly, teams who win cups and titles have to win knockout games like this; Mejía wasn't happy with Atlético's overall performance — perhaps their worst of the year, in his view — but they found a way to respond to adversity multiple times. First, upon conceding early, they struck back with two goals and a handful of dangerous transition moments within 15 minutes.
Then, after York battled back from two down and equalized in the second half, Atleti went back to work. They had a tough job trying to break down a team with 10 men that was staying compact, but they made no mistake in the moments they were given.
"I think we played tonight one of the worst matches of the season for us," Mejía said. "But the emotions the players felt during the game [changed it] because finally you start to fear — they start to be fearful of losing. It's a big evolution for us to play the semi-finals; we need to learn and control this feeling for the next round."
Atleti aren't backing down from the semi-final challenge, either. Does Mejía have a preference of who his side draws for that matchup?
"I want Vancouver or Montréal," he said, welcoming the challenge of an MLS opponent.
Photo: Michael Chisholm/Canadian Premier League
BOX SCORE
Lineups
York United: Pavela; Sturing (Singh 90'), Adekugbe, León; Ferrazzo (Ferrari 82'), Yeates, Kibato, Botello (Jimoh 87'); Reid (Higgins 90'), Altobelli (Bitar 82'), Ferrin
Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Cloutier, Abatneh, Duhaney-Walker; Antinoro, Aparicio, Castro (Sissoko 88'), Dos Santos (Levis 72'); Rodríguez, Salter (Patterson 88'), Tabla (Zapater 54')
Goals
13' — Julian Altobelli (York United)
20' — David Rodríguez (Atlético Ottawa)
22' — Sam Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
37' — Julian Altobelli (York United)
53' — Massimo Ferrin (York United)
84' — Sam Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
90+2' — Aboubacar Sissoko (Atlético Ottawa)
Discipline
26' — Red: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
31' — Yellow: Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
45+1' — Yellow: Riley Ferrazzo (York United)
65' — Yellow: Ivan Pavela (York United)
66' — Yellow: Steffen Yeates (York United)
70' — Yellow: Gabriel Antinoro (Atlético Ottawa)
90+3' — Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (Atlético Ottawa)
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Sam Salter, Atlético Ottawa
The CPL's current Golden Boot leader took his goalscoring talents to the Canadian Championship in this one, scoring two himself and assisting one for Rodríguez at a pivotal point in the match for Atleti. Salter was causing issues for York's backline all night with his running, also drawing the red card for Adekugbe in the first half.
What’s next?
Atlético Ottawa now move onto the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship, which will begin in August. They will find out their opponent on Wednesday night following a draw involving the other semi-finalists.
Watch all 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship and CPL matches live on OneSoccer. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.
