Salter Revels in ‘Amazing Feeling’ After Scoring First Atlético Ottawa Goal

May 15, 2023 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release

Atlético Ottawa thrashed Vancouver FC 5-0 at the weekend as we picked up our first win of the new Canadian Premier League season. The convincing display stood for more than three points as Samuel Salter, who recently signed from Halifax Wanderers, scored his first goal for the club.

Salter’s transfer to that nation’s capital came with plenty of buzz and excitement, as was to be expected when the 22-year-old became the first transfer between two CPL clubs to involve a fee. With the excitement came expectation and after four games without a goal in the league, quiet murmurs started to get louder but “patience and positivity” was the message from both the player himself and Head Coach Carlos González as both knew recent performances weren’t being reflected on the leaderboard.

That message paid off this weekend when Ottawa, notoriously efficient on their travels last year, met with expansion side Vancouver FC for the first time at the Willoughby Community Park Stadium. A five-star performance from González’s side was underpinned by a lethally efficient right flank with Jean-Aniel Assi and Ollie Bassett center stage throughout the opening 45 minutes. Bassett scored the first goal before Assi, darting past his defender and towards the byline, cut the ball back to Salter whose cool left-footed finish doubled Atlético’s lead.

“It’s an amazing feeling to get my first goal,” said the 22-year-old speaking after the game. “The team played really well in the first half which gave us the confidence to head into the second half and play freely and create some more chances. Scoring first was important for us, as we hadn’t done that yet.”

Salter had the ball in the back of the net again when Assi found the Canadian forward in an almost identical move in the second period but it was disallowed for a marginal offside that could’ve gone either way. It wouldn’t affect the result on the day, but a growing understanding between the two Québec forwards is promising for Ottawa.

“We know he [Assi] is an explosive player and likes to run on the wing,” explained Salter. “As soon as I saw him run I knew he was going to cut that ball back to me, it’s something that we’ve been trying to go more of and I’m glad it paid off.”

“We brought him because we knew he has a special talent.”

The dazzling attacking display drew compliments from González after the match: “I’m very happy for the forwards, I think…