A fourth successive victory at home, and a third consecutive win in the space of seven days, saw Atlético Ottawa leap up the Canadian Premier League table and into 4th place. Another massive success at the Beach Party as the crowd at TD Place brought electric energy once more to push the team to another three points against Vancouver FC.

KEY MOMENTS

• Atlético Ottawa moved up to 4th place in the Canadian Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Vancouver FC.
  • Miguel Acosta, starting at left-back, opened the score in the 12th minute. The ball broke to the Spaniard on the edge of the penalty area and he found the bottom corner, via the post, with an inswinging effort.
    • Assisted by Ollie Bassett.
    • This was Acosta’s first goal of the 2023 season.
  • Alejandro Díaz, returning to the Canadian Premier League on loan this week, scored on his debut for Vancouver FC to tie the game in the 55th minute.
  • Defending MVP Bassett thought he had registered a second assist on the day, squaring the ball to Samuel Salter to put Ottawa back in front seconds after Vancouver drew level at the hour mark but the midfielder was judged to have been offside.
    • Replays indicated that Bassett was onside.
  • Second-half substitutes Carl Haworth and Gabriel Anitnoro combined to give Atleti the lead again moments after coming on – Antinoro heading in Haworth’s clipped cross to the back post.
    • This was Antinoro’s first goal at TD Place.
  • Club captain Haworth capped off the victory in the fifth minute of added time, tapping in from close ranger after Rubén del Campo had been denied by Callum Irving in the Vancouver goal.
    • This was Haworth’s first goal since returning to Ottawa.
• Acosta (25) was named Performance of the Match by the Canadian Premier League.
  • The Spanish defender put in a resolute defensive display leading the team in tackles (6), tackles won (4) and possessions won (9) as well as having the second most clearances (2) and winning 8-13 duels.
  • At the other end of the field, Acosta had two shots, with two on target as he scored the opening goal of the game.
• A fourth successive home win for Atlético was completed in dominant style.
  • Ottawa outshot Vancouver 20-8 with eight shots on target to Vancouver’s one.
• Atlético Ottawa heads on the road next weekend, with a trip to Nova Scotia to face Halifax Wanderers.
  • Ottawa returns to the nation’s capital on Saturday, July 29, 2023, against Cavalry FC.
• Attendance: 4,160