Final Score: Cavalry FC 1-3 Atlético Ottawa
Goalscorers: Escalante (PK) 79′ ; Tabla 4′, Wright 54′, Shaw 86′
Game of the 2022 season: 101
CPL match: 351

Match in a minute or less

Atlético Ottawa is headed to the Canadian Premier League playoffs for the first time in club history after a 3-1 win over Cavalry FC at Spruce Meadows. They are also the first club in the league to clinch a spot in this year’s postseason.

A goal of the season candidate from Ballou Tabla opened the scoring for the visitors just four minutes into the match, while Brian Wright and Malcolm Shaw also found the back of the net in the second half to put the score beyond reach. José Escalante scored Cavalry’s lone goal from the penalty spot.

The victory also extends Ottawa’s lead at the top of the table to four points. With two matches remaining, they look to be the favourites to take home the league’s regular season title as well.

Three Observations

Atlético Ottawa clinch a playoff spot for the first time in club history

There has been no better story in the Canadian Premier League in 2022. The “worst to first” storyline might not be official quite yet, but the year-over-year improvement from Atlético Ottawa has been nothing short of remarkable as they head to the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Saturday’s playoff-clinching win came from yet another massive road result for Atleti. It was their seventh win away from home this season, one more than the six they had in total all of last year in league play. They also have now collected 25 road points, just one less than their overall total of 26 from 2021.

After several months of hard work reshaping this side on and off the pitch, tonight was a moment to celebrate for the club from top to bottom.

“It is a milestone for the club so I am very proud and very honoured to be part of the team that we’ve been working on since seven months ago to conquer this challenge for the first time in [our] history,” said Atlético coach Carlos González after the match. “I think that it is so important for the club, they have been fighting, having tough seasons before and I think that everybody deserves this, the players, people from Madrid that have worked really hard this year, and of course the fans. Today we didn’t have them here but they were pushing all season and all the city has been giving us the backup. So we are very proud and happy for them.”

After the final whistle, González passionately shared some insight into what he thinks has made his club so special this season.

“The secret is the attitude, is the mentality, is the commitment of the players,” he said. “It is the way that they believe in what we are doing. I think that this is the secret day by day. Being consistent in work and that’s it, and having, of course, good talent, because without good talent nothing would be done.”

One hurdle does remain for Atleti, however. They still need to meet the Canadian Premier League’s U-21 minutes quota in order to be eligible for the postseason. Each club must achieve 2,000 minutes for domestic players under 21 years of age. Ottawa currently sits at 1,780 with two matches remaining.

Cavalry feels a sense of déja-vu after yet another “baffling” loss to Ottawa

The last time these two sides met, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said he was “baffled” by how his side lost, especially by a 3-0 margin, despite controlling almost every other statistical category in that match.

A month later, and it was another seemingly dominant performance from Cavalry against Atléti at Spruce Meadows…and another lopsided loss. The hosts were outscored 3-1 despite 20 shot attempts, o.90 open play expected goals to 0.53, 68.7 per cent possession and 28 touches inside the Ottawa box.

“It feels like a déja-vu, that I’m in this bad loop and I’m hoping that I will wake up in a minute,” said Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr., later adding, “It is just a bad déja vu, we can play and pass the ball around as much as we want but if we don’t defend like we mean it, and we don’t cut them open like we can then we don’t deserve three points.”

Cavalry was able to consistently get the ball into wide areas, something they clearly prioritized throughout the match with wingbacks Roberto Alarcón and José Escalante bombing forward. But once the ball got to those positions the service wasn’t good enough, and more to the point there were often too few targets in the box other than Joe Mason.

Other than some bright individual moments from Ali Musse, including winning the penalty that led to the host’s lone goal, Cavalry too rarely had any other attacking ideas. They would fire a stunning 44 crosses into the Cavalry box over the course of 90 minutes, nearly a cross every two minutes of action. The side that was widely praised earlier in the season for their proficiency from set-pieces also won 14 corners, none of which they were able to convert.

“We had 44 crosses and we can’t score, I don’t know how many crosses, and we can’t score,” said Cavalry captain Mason Trafford. “Again, normally you would think you have a game like this somebody is going to put the ball in the back of the net. We did eventually with a penalty but it is too little too late. But with those kinds of stats, we need goals, you have to score if you are having 44 crosses I don’t know how else you can explain it. It is just that.”

The below chart shows all of Cavalry’s crossing actions from the match, who somehow were unable to find a goal from open play despite consistently sending the ball into dangerous areas.

The difference in this match then, ultimately came down to Ottawa being far more clinical with their few chances. As the postseason looms, there will be questions as to whether or not Cavalry has enough difference makers in their lineup to win tight matches like this one.

Ballou Tabla scores the potential goal of the season to open the scoring for Ottawa

There have been some truly spectacular goals scored in the Canadian Premier League in 2022. But just four minutes into Saturday’s contest, Ottawa’s Ballou Tabla outdid them all.

His first-time overhead volley from the top of the box was as outstanding as it was important, setting the tone for the most important result in club history.

BALLOU TABLA ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

What a goal from the @atletiOttawa attacker to open the scoring, possibly the goal of the year 🚲#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/R0zx1JdOWo

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) September 24, 2022

It was the high point of what has been an excellent debut season for Tabla in the Canadian Premier League. While his six goals and four assists, while respectable, don’t necessarily leap off the page, it has been the willingness to put in hard work within the Ottawa system to help them succeed that has been most impressive. But a player of his talent is always capable of a few moments of magic as well.

“Obviously we know what Ballou is capable of, the league, people in the league know Ballou so for him to have scored that goal, I’m happy for him,” said Wright after the match. “Obviously, it was an unbelievable goal and it was nice to get that early goal too in the match. Hats off to him, I’m sure we will see it on Sportscentre this week.”

After Ollie Bassett scored an Olimpico last week, González said he has been thrilled to see the confidence of his players in these big moments.

“We have had plenty of nice goals, it is true,” said González. “The forward players they have big talent, in the training sessions, we have seen it. And sometimes it is about this mindset that in certain moments they feel good and in a good position to try out those type of [finishes]. I am very happy for Ballou today.”

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Ballou Tabla, Atlético Ottawa 

It really was a team performance that secured the result for Ottawa, but Ballou Tabla’s heroics deserve mention. On top of his spectacular goal, he completed 92 per cent of his passes, had two dribbles, and won four of his five duels.

What’s next?

Cavalry is back home for a match against yet another playoff hopeful as they face Valour on Sunday, October 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. MT. Atlético Ottawa has another difficult road trip as they head to Halifax to take on the Wanderers on Saturday, October 1 (2:00 p.m. ET).

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