RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Atlético Ottawa vs. Vancouver FC | August 30, 2025

Second-place Atlético Ottawa have narrowed the gap between them and first-place Forge in the Canadian Premier League standings to just three points, as they defeated Vancouver FC 3-1 at TD Place on Saturday.

Just hours after Forge fell 4-1 away to Cavalry for their first defeat of the season, Ottawa capitalized on the chance to make up some ground in the race for the CPL Shield with this win, which comes at a good time after they dropped points in their last two games, which saw them draw Cavalry and lose to Forge.

Meanwhile, for last-place Vancouver, this loss seemingly all but eliminates them from playoff contention, as they sit 18 points behind fifth place with just seven games to go - meaning that while they can't be mathematically eliminated this week, they could be officially knocked out of contention as soon as the next matchday.

Ottawa almost went ahead in the 10th minute, as Joaquim Coulanges found Ballou Tabla with a nice low cross into the box, but Tabla sent his shot over the goal from a dangerous position.

At the other end, Vancouver responded with an even better chance of their own in the 17th minute, coming off a corner. There, Thierno Bah did well to whip in a dangerous cross, one that Aidan O'Connor rose highest to meet, but his powerful header thundered off the crossbar and stayed out to keep the game at 0-0.

Soon after, though, Vancouver would continue to ramp up the pressure, and that allowed them to open the scoring in the 25th minute. In that case, they did well to press Ottawa, as Nicolás Mezquida jumped up to intercept a dangerous pass from Ottawa's goalkeeper, Nathan Ingham, before slotting home into a vacated net before Ingham could react.

Eager to respond to that mistake, Ottawa had a good look at goal in the 26th minute, as a dangerous cross fell to Coulanges at the back post, but the Ottawa youngster's right-footed shot went well wide of the target.

Moments later, however, Ottawa would find that equalizer. After winning the ball at the edge of the box, David Rodríguez opened up his hips and caught all of a strike, curling it into the bottom left corner to tie the game at 1-1.

Then, Ottawa almost made it 2-1 in the 36th minute, as Rodríguez teed up Sam Salter for a dangerous chance after some good link-up play, but Salter's powerful shot was nicely saved by Vancouver's goalkeeper, Callum Irving.

Eventually, though, Salter would get his goal, and it'd be a special one. After some exquisite link-up play, Rodríguez found Salter with a great low cross, and the CPL's Golden Boot leader made no mistake for his 14th of the year - a marker that tied the league's single-season record in the process.

Not done there, Ottawa almost made it 3-1 in the 44th minute, as Kevin dos Santos found Tabla in the box with a nice cross, and Tabla caught all of a shot - unfortunately, he put too much power on the attempt, sending it well over the net.

After surviving that late first-half onslaught, Vancouver responded with a strong start to the second half, one that nearly led to a goal in the 55th minute. Following a dangerous shot attempt from Bah, the ball fell to Matteo Campagna in a good position, but Ingham nicely saved his shot.

Immediately following that chance, Ottawa had another good look at goal on a transition moment, as Rodríguez fired a dangerous shot from outside of the box, forcing a good save out of Irving.

Continuing a chaotic sequence from both teams, Bah almost scored a beautiful goal in the 58th minute, doing well to get on the end of a probing pass from Vasco Fry, firing a shot that forced Ingham to react quickly to make the stop. Then, Rodríguez had another good chance, as he put all of his might behind a shot following a good cutback from Tabla, but Irving did well to palm his attempt away from goal.

From there, things settled down, but Ottawa then came back alive in the 80th minute, as they finally found their third to seal the victory. In that instance, Gabriel Antinoro managed to pick out Salter with a nice pass, and Salter managed to direct his shot towards goal, but O'Connor came flying in to block it and slashed the ball into his own net for an own goal in the process, denying Salter of the single-season goal record but gifting the hosts a two-goal lead.

Vancouver almost responded with a goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, as O'Connor slammed a vicious half-volley towards goal on a corner, but for the second time in the game, he hit the crossbar.

Soon after, the final whistle would blow, allowing Ottawa to celebrate a massive victory to close out the month of August.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Mbomio, Kozlovskiy, Levis; dos Santos, Castro (Sissoko 70'), Aparicio, Coulanges (Antinoro 70'); Rodríguez, Tabla (Ortega 78'); Salter

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke, Campagna, O'Connor, Enyou (Gee 78'); Fry (Norman Jr. 68'), Cavalcante; Campbell (Powell 78'), Mezquida (Ndiaye 78'), Bah; Mbongue (Batista 86')

Goals

25' — Nicolás Mezquida (Vancouver FC)

30' — David Rodríguez (Atlético Ottawa)

40' — Sam Salter (Atlético Ottawa)

80' — Aidan O'Connor (Vancouver FC) (Own Goal)

Discipline

38' — Yellow: Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC)

86' — Yellow: Pathé Ndiaye (Vancouver FC)