Atlético Earns Big Canadian Championship Win at Halifax

April 19, 2023 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release

Atlético Ottawa celebrates a goal against Halifax Wanderers FC
(Atletico Ottawa, Credit: John Jacques / Northern Tribune)

Atlético Ottawa travelled to York Lions Stadium to face Halifax Wanderers for the second time in four days as they got their 2023 Canadian Championship campaign off to a winning start as the capital city club reached a new milestone in front of an impressive and raucous contingent of travelling Atlético fans.

KEY MOMENTS

Atlético Ottawa wrote another page in the club’s history book, winning their first Canadian Championship match and progressing to the quarter-finals for the first time.

Halifax took the lead in the 15th minute through an inch-perfect free-kick by 2022 League1 Ontario MVP Massimo Ferrin.

Atlético hit back with two goals in five minutes before the break to take the lead.

Malcolm Shaw scored his first goal of the season, heading home Gianni dos Santos’ cross before Diego Espejo latched onto a loose ball from close at range to score his first goal for the club.

Captain and Gatineau-born Maxim Tissot secured Ottawa’s spot in the final minutes of the game, finishing off a clinical counter-attack with Jean-Aniel Assi registering his second assist in two games.

An overall positive evening was dampened slightly with Canadian Premier League 2022 Player and Player’s Player of the Year, Ollie Bassett, forced to withdraw after 15 minutes with a non-contact injury.

Spanish defender Diego Espejo was named as the performer of the match following a resolute defensive performance to add to his goal.

Espejo had a 90% (50/55) passing accuracy and won 100% of his duels (4/4) whilst leading the team in interceptions (4) and clearances (7).

Atlético Ottawa benefited from a strong contingent of travelling supporters who made the trip to York to cheer on the team in person.

This match was hosted at a neutral venue as neither team was able to host in the preliminary round.

OTHER NEWS

Canadian Premier League announced an increase of 67% in match attendance for the opening weekend compared to the 2022 season, with 7039 people in attendance at TD Place.

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