April 29, 2023 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release
Call it the derby of draws. Only three of the 11 matches that Ontario rivals Atlético Ottawa and York United have played against each other in history have had a winner – one of which, in last year’s Canadian Championship, was determined from the penalty spot.
As the two sides meet on Saturday for the first time in 2023, however, a single point wouldn’t exactly suit either team, as both are still searching for their first regular season win of the year. Through two matchdays, Ottawa sits 7th in the table, while York is 8th.
“I think York they have shown that they have a good squad, they have good individuals,” said Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos González. “These are the types of teams that although maybe they aren’t doing the best performances in the past games, they can wake up one day and be brilliant. We can not think that they are going to continue with this dynamic in this game, we have to be aware of the good things that they have.”
Ottawa, the 2022 regular season champions, have drawn both of their first two matches in the league, first at home to the Halifax Wanderers, and then away to Valour in Winnipeg. Both matches had a 1-1 scoreline. Atleti is winless in their last six matches played at TD Place stadium, dating back to last year’s regular season and playoffs.
The Nine Stripes, meanwhile, sit bottom of the table after the first two matchdays, and are the only club in the league without a point, having lost their first two matches of the regular season, both at home 2-0 to Valour FC and 2-1 to Vancouver FC. Especially defensively, there have been a lot of concerns, as they have allowed a league-leading four goals, and 4.22 expected goals and eight big chances through two matches.
A lot of that has perhaps been down to yet another injury crisis for Martin Nash’s side. Central defenders Tass Mourdoukoutas and Roger Thompson, and key defensive midfielder Elijah Adekugbe have yet to appear this season. Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, meanwhile, was injured in the club’s Canadian Championship match against Vancouver, while Clément Bayiha was helped off the pitch this past weekend.
York has never lost in Ottawa, however, making it perhaps the perfect place to get their season up and running. The good news for them is that there have been signs of life in attack, where they actually lead the league in non-penalty expected goals in 3.22, despite being the only side in the…
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