Atlético Ottawa and Cavalry FC Split Points in Tightly-Contested 1-1 Draw

July 9, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release

Tied for first place in the Canadian Premier League standings heading into their clash on Saturday, Atlético Ottawa and Cavalry FC would also finish the night that way, as they split the spoils in a 1-1 draw in CPL action.

In a top-of-the-table clash between two in-form teams, they certainly proved their credentials as league leaders in this match, leaving the draw as a fair result.

Right from the beginning of the match, the energy of the match was certainly that of a big game, as both teams refused to give up an inch to their opposing members.

After a cagey start to the game, Cavalry would strike first in the 20th minute, as they did well to win a set-piece high up the pitch. There, with a chance to have a go from 25 yards, up stepped José Escalante, and he’d unleash a beauty, curling one into the top corner around the wall for his second free-kick goal in as many games, giving his team the lead in the process.

Eager to respond to that, Ottawa nearly got back in the game right away, however, as they chased an equalizer.

Having found some space down the left-hand side, Ballou Tabla curled a great low strike towards the back post, but his attempt would be blocked by a Cavalry defender. Then, on the ensuing rebound, he tried a similar shot, but that too would be blocked, although the bounce it took did see it nearly roll in, just finding itself kept out by the safe hands of Marco Carducci.

Continuing a cagey start to the game, however, the next good chance for either side wouldn’t come until right before halftime. There, Ottawa’s Ollie Bassett nearly pulled off some magic, slicing through a couple of Cavalry defenders before unleashing a dangerous left-footed strike, one that would only be kept out by the head of Karifa Yao.

Other than that, though, that’d be all the first half had to offer, leaving both teams to go and regroup at halftime.

Which, to give credit to Ottawa, they certainly took full advantage of, as they came storming out of the gates in the second half. After a nice ball into the box, one that fell to Tabla, he’d manage to play a quick 1-2 with Malcolm Shaw, before unleashing a rocket of a shot on his left foot, smashing the ball into the top corner with authority to tie things up.

Not satisfied with that, Ottawa nearly grabbed a second just a few minutes later, too, as Zakaria Bahous found Tabla with a lofted cross towards the back post, but Tabla’s volley attempt…