Atlético Ottawa completed its pre-season preparations in style as Carlos González’s side comfortably dispatched CF Montréal u23’s 6-1 at TD Place on Saturday afternoon.
The match was held behind closed doors with the incredibly successful World Men’s Curling Championships hosted at TD Place. It was an opportunity for Atlético to wear the 2023 ‘City Kit’ and for the players to get their home turf under their feet for the first time this year ahead of hosting Halifax Wanderers in this weekend’s opening fixture.
Ottawa took an early lead as Ollie Bassett, last season’s Most Valuable Player in the Canadian Premier League, converted from the spot after Jean-Aniel Assi was brought down in the penalty area.
Bassett then turned provider with a delightful cross to new signing Gianni dos Santos before the pair linked up again, this time it was Dos Santos creating the play, freeing the 25-year-old who cut inside the Montréal defence and cooly finished from close range.
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Atlético Ottawa vs CF Montreal U23
Dos Santos, a Cape Verde International, added his second and Atleti’s fourth of the game moments after the game resumed for the second period with Bassett notching up another assist.
Ottawa was awarded a second penalty and, with the opportunity to complete his hat-trick, Bassett decided to hand the ball to forward Malcolm Shaw, who had replaced Samuel Salter at half-time. The 27-year-old made no mistake from the spot, placing the ball into the side netting and beyond the reach of the diving keeper.
With a commanding lead and grasp on the game, Head Coach González rotated his side as much as possible with Karl Ouimette, Zakaria Bahous, Niba Macdonald, Abou Sacko and Gabriel Antinoro (who scored Atleti’s sixth and final goal of the game) entering the fray alongside minutes for youngsters Junior Agyekum, Tyr Walker and Omar Darwish.