In an instant classic in the nation’s capital, Atlético Ottawa defeated York United 2-2 (5-4) on penalty kicks to book a spot in the CPL Playoff semi-final on Sunday. It was the first time a CPL playoff match had been decided by penalty kicks in league history.
The two sides cancelled each other out during the initial 90 minutes, as an Ollie Bassett Olimpico was nullified by a stunning strike from Shola Jimoh, before a Rubén del Campo penalty was equalized by a Mo Babouli header in extra time.
Atlético Ottawa will now await the result of Sunday’s qualifying semifinal between Forge FC and Cavalry FC, as they will travel to face the loser of that match in the CPL semi-final on Nov. 2. It was Atleti’s first-ever home playoff victory.
Atlético Ottawa went to work early, getting into dangerous attacking positions inside the opening 15 minutes. That included a ball over the top down the left flank which Matteo de Brienne got on the end of, before getting tangled up with York defender Nyal Higgins in the box. There were appeals for a penalty but they went unheard.
The visitor’s first big chance came in the 17th minute, when Babouli had a free-kick opportunity in a very dangerous spot at the top left of the York box. His initial chance was blocked by the wall, before he put the rebound narrowly wide of Nate Ingham’s goal.
As the half wore on, Atleti looked to use balls over the top to create chances, pushing fullbacks Matteo de Brienne and Dani Morer high up the flanks to create width in attack.
They forced a last-ditch headed clearance from Frank Sturing in the 41st minute when Ballou Tabla and Manny Aparicio combined well down the right. Aparicio’s cross was destined for Rubén del Campo in the middle before the York defender’s intervention.
When the whistle signalling half-time sounded, however, it brought to an end a half where clear-cut chances were lacking during a well-contested defensive contest. All three shots on target during the half, each of which came from Atlético Ottawa, were taken from outside of the box and didn’t really threaten Thomas Vincensini in the York net.
At the half, York United manager Benjamín Mora made a pair of substitutions, bringing on 16-year-old Shola Jimoh and Mexican midfielder Josué Martínez.
Just two minutes into the half, Atleti found the opener. Bassett curled a corner kick directly at the York net, which Vincensini was unable to keep out as the hosts took a 1-0 lead. It was just the latest of an incredible number of Olimpicos which have been scored in the Canadian Premier League this season, and in the league’s history.
Ballou Tabla had a great chance to double the lead eight minutes later, as the ball fell to him in the York box but his shot was well over the net. Bassett then nearly turned provider in the 62nd minute with a great cross to del Campo, but a brave punch from Vincensini denied the opportunity.
Needing a goal to get back in the match, and keep their season alive, York shifted to a back four and looked to get more aggressive. In the 72nd minute, they had a decent chance on a ball over the top, but Ingham claimed the ball moments before substitute Max Ferrari could get his head on it.
York then brought on leading scorer Brian Wright in the 77th minute, who was surprisingly playing his first minutes of the CPL Playoffs after having not appeared against Pacific FC on Wednesday.
It was Atleti, however, who kept pushing for an insurance goal to put the match to bed on the counterattack. In the 82nd minute, Tabla nearly did just that as he spun and hit a dangerous strike in the box, but it was well stopped by Vincensini.
York did put the ball in the net in the 85th minute on an Elijah Adekugbe header, but he was ruled to be in an offside position.
With seconds remaining, and all looking lost for the Nine Stripes, 16-year-old Jimoh got on the end of a bouncing ball in the box and smashed it into the top corner for an absolutely stunning equalizer to force extra time.
Seconds into the first extra time period, Atlético Ottawa went forward and added another twist to the tale. Sam Salter got himself into the box and was brought down by Elijah Adekugbe, earning a penalty kick.
Rubén del Campo stepped up to the spot, and smashed home his 14th goal in all competitions for the capital club to give them a 2-1 lead.
The visitors, however, were not at all keen to go away. Shortly after the kickoff following Ottawa’s goal, York went the other way and a lovely cross from Jimoh found the head of Nine Stripes’ captain Mo Babouli who equalized once again, 2-2.
In the 98th minute, Amer Didić looked like he had given the hosts another lead when the ball fell to him at the back post. But he hit the crossbar on a vicious strike from close range. Del Campo’s follow-up effort was blocked.
After so much excitement in the first half of extra time, the two sides were more pragmatic to begin the second half — knowing that one mistake could mean the end of their season. Babouli had perhaps the best chance, but once again the Atleti wall stood tall on his free kick effort.
With neither side able to solve the other for a third time, the match went to a penalty shootout.
In the second round of the shootout, Ingham got his hand to a poorly struck effort from Babouli to give Atlético Ottawa the advantage. Atleti then stepped up and scored all five of their penalties to secure a dramatic victory.
It took them 120 minutes plus penalties to do so, but Atleti held on for their first-ever playoff victory at TD Place.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Morer (Zapater 79′), Walker, Didić, del Amo, de Brienne (Tissot 119′); Aparicio, Sissoko (Twardek 91′), Bassett (Iliadis 90+3′); del Campo, Tabla (Salter 87′)
York United: Vincensini; Higgins, Sturing (Ferrari 70′), León (Márquez 90+2′); Botello, Kibato (Wright 77′), Adekubge, Baldisimo (Martínez 46′), Córdova; Babouli, Salanović (Jimoh 46′)
Goals
47′ — Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa)
90+4′ — Shola Jimoh (York United)
92′ — Rubén del Campo (Atlético Ottawa) (Penalty)
94′ — Mo Babouli (York United)
Discipline
29′ — Yellow:Dani Morer (Atlético Ottawa)
74′ — Yellow: Nyal Higgins (York United)
90′ — Yellow: Rubén del Campo (Atlético Ottawa)
90+2′ — Yellow: Sam Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
91′ — Yellow: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
109′ — Yellow: Orlando Botello (York United)
Penalty Shootout
- York: Juan Córdova (GOAL)
Ottawa: Amer Didić (GOAL) - York: Mo Babouli (MISS)
Ottawa: Maxim Tissot (GOAL) - York: Brian Wright (GOAL)
Ottawa: Rubén del Campo (GOAL) - York: Orlando Botello (GOAL)
Ottawa: Alberto Zapater (GOAL) - York: Josué Martínez (GOAL)
Ottawa: Ilias Iliadis (GOAL)
