Atlético Ottawa forward Jean-Aniel Assi scored his first professional goal against his former side as a late flurry saw Head Coach Carlos Gonzalez’s side take all three points from their visit to ATCO Field. Atlei faced a short week and a quick turnaround with a trip to Alberta to face Cavalry FC just over two days after their triumph at TD Place over Valour.

KEY MOMENTS

• Atlético Ottawa beat Cavalry FC 2-0 thanks to goals from Ollie Bassett and Assi.
  • Bassett made no mistake from the penalty spot for the third time this season as he took his goal tally up to seven with an 81st-minute penalty after striker Malcolm Shaw had been brought down by Mario Carlucci.
    • The 25-year-old is now the joint-top scorer in the Canadian Premier League.
    • Bassett was named Performance of the Match.
  • Assi, on loan from MLS side CF Montréal, spent last season with the Cavs and secured the result in the 85th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack started by Samuel Salter who picked the assist.
    • The 18-year-old had the most shots (2), most shots on target (1) and big chances (1) of any player for Ottawa.
  • Nathan Ingham started in goal, making his 100th appearance for a CPL club and picked up his fourth clean sheet of the season.
    • Noah Verhoeven would come on as a second-half substitute as he also made with 100th appearance for a CPL team.
• Gabriel Antinoro (19), who started the match, was an ever-present figure in the middle of the park for Ottawa as he put in, arguably, his best performance for the Rojiblancos.
  • Antinoro won 9/17 duels on the night, bested only by veteran midfielder Alberto Zapater (11/18).
  • The 18-year-old also has the second most tackles of any player for Ottawa (4) and won more than any other player (4).
• Atlético had to return to a more defensive style of play, that which had become almost trademark in 2022, digging in deep and defending resolutely before proving clinical on the break.
  • Ottawa was out-possessed (66%-34%) and was outpassed (491-239) as Cavalry dominated territory and the ball for large portions of the game.
  • González’s side remained more dangerous though, outshooting their opponents (8-2) whilst registering the only shots on target of the game with the two goals.
• Atlético Ottawa returns to the nation’s capital this weekend for its final home game of the regular season against expansion side Vancouver FC on Saturday, July 9, 2023, and it’s going to be a Beach Party!