Match Preview: Atlético Ottawa vs. Cavalry FC – 2 PM

April 19, 2024 – Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Atletico Ottawa News Release

2024 CPL Regular Season – Match #7

Atlético Ottawa vs. Cavalry FC

April 20, 2024 at 2 p.m. ET/12 p.m. MT

TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario

Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here

This weekend, the defending Canadian Premier League Shield winners take on a challenger looking to get it back as Atlético Ottawa host last year’s regular season champions Cavalry FC.

It’s been all smiles in the capital this week, after Ottawa opened their 2024 season last Saturday with a comeback win over York United FC. The 2-1 triumph saw two club debutants, Manny Aparicio and Kris Twardek, score en route to a dramatic victory in cold, drizzly conditions at TD Place. After entering the season with so much hype around the club thanks to a litany of big-name off-season signings, their matchday one launch was a success.

The same can’t necessarily be said of Cavalry, who began their 2024 season in the same place they ended 2023. The Calgary side took on Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field in a CPL Final rematch last weekend and took a second-half lead thanks to Sergio Camargo’s headed flick from a corner. Shortly thereafter, however, they conceded two goals in six minutes to leave with a 2-1 defeat and no points.

So, it’ll be a motivated Cavalry making another Ontario stop, hoping to spoil the party at Atleti’s “Pay What You Can” match.

Despite being the most successful regular season team over the course of the CPL’s history, Cavalry have often had trouble playing against Ottawa. They’re the only CPL opponent against whom Cavalry have averaged less than one point per game (0.83), and they’ve only beaten Atlético three times in 12 attempts.

Last year, the season series was a draw, with both teams winning once at home and away. Their final meeting of 2023 was a wild and memorable one at TD Place, though; Ottawa thought they’d snatched a point in the 88th minute when Luke Singh scored an outrageous overhead kick to equalize at 1-1, but in the seventh minute of stoppage time Cavalry’s William Akio put the visitors back in front to secure a dramatic win.

All that’s to say, there’s no shortage of motivation in this fixture for either side. Ottawa would love a measure of revenge for that last defeat, of course, but even more than that they would be thrilled to start the season 2-0 with so many new faces in the squad.

Cavalry, meanwhile, will be desperate not to lose a second straight game – something they…