RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Atlético Ottawa vs. York United | August 3, 2025

Atlético Ottawa are no longer the CPL's league leaders after a 0-0 draw with York United on Sunday at TD Place.

It was the first time this season that Atleti had been held scoreless at home this season, and the second consecutive league match that these two sides have been unable to solve one another. This draw leaves Atleti one point behind Forge FC in the standings, while York remain in fourth place for the time being.

York set up in a defensive shape in the early stages of the match, inviting Atlético Ottawa to try to break them down. Atleti, meanwhile, shifted the ball around through their lines, looking for any opening they could find in the Nine Stripes and dominating the ball in the opening stages of the match. In fact, through 20 minutes, they had held a stunning 80 per cent of it.

But York patiently waited for their own opportunities, and had the best chance of that time frame, when on a quick counterattack, Max Ferrari picked out Julian Altobelli in the box. The York striker couldn't sort out his feet, however, and sent an ambitious chip well over the net.

That match continued much like this, with Atleti methodically moving the ball and looking to create openings, and York direct and decisive when they won the ball back. Both Atleti central midfielders, Manny Aparicio and Juan Castro, picked up bookings early on, looking to prevent transitional opportunities.

Those chances, however, were few and far between, with both sides defending incredibly well -- with neither managing a shot on target through 45 minutes. Atleti finished the half with 71 per cent possession, but had just four touches in the York box.

York United had a great chance early in the 50th minute of a lovely set-piece routine, which saw Adonijah Reid deliver a lovely curling cross into the box for Kembo Kibato, whose side-footed volley was over the net.

In the 57th minute, Mauro Eustáquio decided to go to his bench and hand 31-year-old Mexican midfielder Leonel López his debut.

As the match reached the hour mark, Atlético Ottawa started to push the pace. In the 65th minute, some great interplay between Kevin Dos Santos and Ballou Tabla down the left nearly resulted in the opening goal, as the latter struck a curling left-footed strike off the crossbar.

Three minutes later, York returned fire with López creating an opening for Massimo Ferrin at the top of the box, who forced a good save from Nathan Ingham. In the 69th minute, it was the first shot on target of the match.

The temperature in the match increased as well, during a 72nd-minute sequence in which Oswaldo León tripped up Sam Salter, before Atlético Ottawa goalkeeper Nathan Ingham came out of his net to shove him to the ground. Both players were shown yellow cards.

Both sides made a pair of substitutions shortly thereafter, and they came together in the 80th minute. York's Shola Jimoh latched onto the end of a brilliant long ball from Gabriel Bitar, rounding Ingham, but his shot attempt was blocked by Atlético Ottawa's Joaquim Coulanges.

Atlético Ottawa had a great chance to win the match in the final minute of the 90, but David Rodríguez sent his low shot straight at Diego Urtiaga. The hosts continued to press for a winner in stoppage time, but some desperate defending from York thwarted their efforts.

The draw made it seven straight without a loss in the league for York United, and nine straight undefeated for Atlético Ottawa, but neither side will be perfectly pleased with just a single point.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Kozlovskiy, Abatneh, Cloutier; Antinoro (Khoury 90+1'), Castro (Zapater 79') , Aparicio (Sissoko 86'), Dos Santos (Coulanges 79'); Tabla, Rodríguez, Salter

York United: Urtiaga; Singh, Sturing, León; Ferrari, Kibato, Adekugbe (López 57'), Botello; Reid (Jimoh 74'), Ferrin (Bitar 74'), Altobelli (Hundal 84')

Goals

N/A

Discipline

16' -- Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)
26' -- Yellow: Juan Castro (Atlético Ottawa)
41' -- Yellow: Adonijah Reid (York United)
62' -- Yellow: Massimo Ferrin (York United)
72' -- Yellow: Oswaldo León (York United)
72' -- Yellow: Nathan Ingham (Atlético Ottawa)