The 2024 Canadian Premier League season kicked off in the nation’s capital on Saturday, as Atlético Ottawa opened up a new campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over York United to take the first three points of the year.

York, already dealing with injuries to a few key players entering the match, suffered an early setback as defender Frank Sturing picked up a knock in warmups, forcing coach Martin Nash to replace him with Noah Abatneh in the starting XI. Meanwhile,  Ottawa kicked off with a largely full-strength group, as five players — Manny Aparicio, Amer Didic, Aboubacar Sissoko, Matteo de Brienne and Kris Twardek — made their club debuts.

Naturally, both sides kicked off hungry to make an imprint on this opening game of the season, but after a few chaotic phases in the first 10 minutes the two foes settled into a rhythm as they sought a first attacking chance.

Just over 20 minutes in, York had the first major opportunity of the game as they won the ball in midfield and broke quickly in transition. Brian Wright fed it in the box to Max Ferrari, who occupied the keeper’s attention and flicked it backward into the path of Austin Ricci. Despite the yawning goalmouth in front of him, though, Ricci’s shot skipped past the left post and the game stayed scoreless.

Around 15 minutes later, the game continued to pick up. Ottawa’s Samuel Salter put the ball in the net from the top of the box, but it was disallowed for a foul moments earlier. As York broke upfield from the ensuing free kick, Wright took a shot from distance that forced a good save from Nathan Ingham, and Abatneh nearly scored on the corner kick following but couldn’t get his head cleanly on the ball.

It didn’t take long in the second half for Ricci to earn a measure of redemption for his earlier miss. York sent an initial cross into the area that Ingham punched away, but only as far as an unmarked Ricci who brought it down neatly and buried a low shot from about 15 yards to score the first goal of the 2024 season and give the Nine Stripes a lead.

Ottawa’s quality willed them into the final third over the next 10 minutes though, and eventually they found a breakthrough. After buzzing around the box for several moments, Ballou Tabla flicked in a cross from the right that Sissoko directed goalward. York ‘keeper Thomas Vincensini made a great save on the first effort, but Aparicio was in place on the doorstep to head in the rebound and equalize with his first Atleti goal.

With the score tied and the game entering the final 20 minutes, both managers turned to their benches. Nash opted to bring on Elijah Adekugbe and Clément Bayiha, while Ottawa’s Carlos González handed a club debut to former York winger Kevin Dos Santos.

Not long after, TD Place erupted once again as Aparicio picked the ball off a York defender in the box. His momentum carried him toward the end line, but he cleverly flicked it back in front of goal with the outside of his foot, finding Twardek for an excellent low finish as the Ottawa native put his club in front.

Despite some nervy moments toward the end, including a few dangerous set pieces for York, Atleti held on for a hard-fought victory to begin their year.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Twardek, Didic, Singh, De Brienne; Aparicio, Zapater (c), Sissoko, Bassett (Tissot 89’); Salter (Del Campo 78′), Tabla (Dos Santos 70′)

York United FC: Vincensini; Ferrari, Abatneh, Higgins, Botello (Martin-Pereux 86’); Soumaoro (Zeppieri 86’), Martinez (Adekugbe 68′), Babouli (c); Voytsekhovskyy (Bayiha 68′), Wright, Ricci

Goals

48′ — Austin Ricci (York United)
64′ — Manuel Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)
79′ — Kris Twardek (Atlético Ottawa)

Discipline

44′ — Yellow: Matteo de Brienne (Atlético Ottawa)
45′ — Yellow: Noah Abatneh (York United)
76′ — Yellow: Austin Ricci (York United)
78′ — Yellow: Kris Twardek (Atlético Ottawa)
79′ — Yellow: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
84’ — Yellow: Orlando Botello (York United)
90+4’ — Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)