Professional soccer is back in the nation’s capital as an electric crowd gathered at TD Place to witness the start of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season. A revamped Atlético Ottawa came from behind to beat Ontario-rivals York United, as thousands of soccer fans created an electric atmosphere in the cold and the rain in support of the ‘Save a Life’ Home Opener in partnership with Canadian Blood Services.

KEY MOMENTS

• Atlético Ottawa continues to work hard to bring together the much-changed roster for the 2024 CPL season and showed great grit and determination to come from behind to win 2-1.
  • York striker Austin Ricci gave the visitors the lead (48′) minutes after the re-start, collecting a loose ball in the box before beating Nathan Ingham at his near post.
  • New signing Manny Aparicio took the game by the scruff of the next, scoring the equalizer with a close-range header (63′) before getting an assist for the game-winning goal.
  • Kris Twardek, of Kinburn, ON, capped off a fine second-half performance as the right-back met Aparicio’s cross with a composed right-foot volley to seal the three points (79′).
• This was the first time Atlético Ottawa beat York United at TD Place.
• Atlético Ottawa defender, Twardek (27) – the Kinburn-kid – had spent the last decade playing professional soccer in Europe (including England and Ireland).
  • This was Twardek’s first professional soccer match in his hometown (having played youth soccer for ‘Powered by Atlético’ club Ottawa South United)
  • “Playing in front of 100 friends and family, it’s impossible to put into words what that means,” he said in the post-match press conference.
  • Twardek had 13 entries into the final third (1st), six duels won (1st) and two aerial duels won (1st) to add to his winning goal.
• Today marked professional debuts for multiple Atlético Ottawa players, including Barrhaven-raised Matteo de Brienne.
• Twardek, Aparicio, Amer Didić and Abou Sissoko also made their full debuts.
• Kevin dos Santos also made his debut, coming off the bench in the second half.
• Attendance: 4,049