RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Atlético Ottawa vs. Pacific FC | Sept. 6, 2025

Atlético Ottawa had to wait for their breakthrough against a resilient Pacific FC side at TD Place on Saturday night, but two goals in five minutes at the end of the second half saw them beat the Tridents to pick up three important points in their chase for the CPL Shield.

Pacific suffered a blow in the first few minutes, with Lukas Browning Lagerfeldt stretchered off the field in the fifth minute of the game after seemingly injuring his leg, pounding the turf with his fist in frustration before being replaced by Sean Young.

After the short break from play to deal with the injury, Ottawa got to work, with Rony Mbomio getting the first crack at goal with a header in the penalty area that he wasn't able to direct on target. David Rodríguez had the first shot on target of the match five minutes later, with a left footed effort from close range that former Ottawa goalkeeper Sean Melvin took care of comfortably.

Rodriguez and Juan Castro had further attempts blocked as Ottawa continued to dominate possession of the ball, holding onto the ball and keeping Pacific on the back foot for most of the first half. When the Tridents were able to get a couple of opportunities higher up the pitch, Yann Toualy wastefully fired a shot from distance into a crowd of bodies instead of laying off a pass for the charging Marco Bustos, moments before Bustos fired a shot wide of the mark himself.

Sam Salter, after breaking the CPL's single-season goal record last weekend, was left wide open for a header in the box in the 40th minute, but sent it right of the net. Ballou Tabla had the best chance of the first half, going one-on-one with Melvin from around the penalty spot after being played in behind by Kevin Dos Santos, but he curled his chance wide before looking up to the sky for answers as to how it didn't go in. Pacific had one more chance after a good buildup in stoppage time, ending in Yann Toualy attempting to poke the ball into the far corner of the net but rolling the ball around Nathan Ingham's post.

The first half ended scoreless despite the waves of Ottawa chances.

The hosts came out firing in the second half as well, with Gabriel Antinoro firing a shot over the bar three minutes after play resumed, moments before Salter tried to slip a low shot under Melvin but again missed the target. Salter had another headed chance in the 56th minute, this time getting it on target but denied by the outstretched arms of Melvin. Melvin denied Castro as well a couple of minutes later as Pacific maintained their Herculean attempt at a clean sheet, before pushing away a shot from Mbomio as well.

Ottawa finally found their breakthrough in the 76th minute, with Tabla running onto a chipped pass from Rodriguez, going around the rushing Melvin and calmly slotting the ball into the open net. They scored again four minutes later, with Joaquim Coulanges in the right place at the right time to pounce on a rebound that Melvin couldn't parry away from danger, putting it right into the path of Coulanges who made no mistake.

Monty Patterson thought he made it 3-0 when he put the ball into the back of the net moments after coming off the bench in the 85th minute, but it was called back for an offside, and the game would ultimately end 2-0.

With the win, Ottawa stays within three points of league leaders Forge FC, while Pacific FC are left 12 points back of York United for the final playoff spot with just six games remaining for both sides.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Mbomio (Assi 85'), Cloutier, Levis; Antinoro, Aparicio (Sissoko 74'), Castro, Dos Santos (Coulanges 69'); Rodriguez, Salter (Patterson 85'), Tabla (Ortega 85')

Pacific FC: Melvin; Chung, Ndom, Baldisimo, Mukumbilwa; Browning Lagerfeldt (Young 5'), Juhmi (Schiavoni 69'); Bustos (Heard 69'), Toualy, Zanatta (Daniels 69'); Diaz

Goals

76' — Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
81' -- Joaquim Coulanges (Atlético Ottawa)

Discipline

43' — Yellow: Kadin Chung (Pacific FC)
55' -- Yellow: Roshawn Juhmi (Pacific FC)
55' -- Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)
73' -- Yellow: Matteo Schiavoni (Pacific FC)
83' -- Yellow: Yann Toualy (Pacific FC)
88' -- Yellow: Aly Ndom (Pacific FC)
90+1' -- Yellow: Jean-Aniel Assi (Atlético Ottawa)