Noah Abatneh scored a late stoppage time winner against his former team as Atlético Ottawa defeated York United 3-2 in an action-packed end-to-end Canadian Premier League match in the nation’s capital Saturday.
“We’re confident going forward and obviously we’re pushing for the title,” said Atlético Ottawa defender Noah Abatneh post-game. “That’s what we’re here to do.”
There were two changes in the lineup for York United manager Mauro Eustáquio as Julian Altobelli came in up front in place of Massimo Ferrin, and Diego Urtiaga started his first game in goal for York United.
Ottawa push but York lead at halftime
The first half opened with Ottawa on the front foot as both teams looked to attack early. There were early fouls from York United, and Ottawa had a chance that sailed over the bar from Gabiral Antinoro.
Momentum shifted in favour of York as they pressured Ottawa’s defense and took advantage of open space. In the 11th minute, a great over-the-top ball from Elijah Adekugbe in midfield found Max Ferrari on the right wing. Ferrari’s first touch, cutting it on his left foot, beat the defender, and he lifted a cross towards the centre of the box. Altobelli dove to head an eye-catching goal past an outstretched Nathan Ingham to provide the visitors a 1-0 lead. This was the third goal in three games for Altobelli as he continues to stay hot this season.
Loading ...In the 25th minute, York United keeper Diego Urtiaga was fortunate as a mistimed punch off an Ottawa free kick almost led to an equalizer for the hosts. Around the 36th minute, York had a couple of great opportunities to double their lead. Finding himself with open space down the byline, Adonijah Reid drove into the box and left it for Gabriel Bitar, whose shot was saved in tight by Ingham. Bitar found Riley Ferrazzo open with the rebound, but Ingham stood his ground, and the shot was saved again. Off the ensuing rebound, the ball landed at the feet of Altobelli, whose shot was crucially blocked and cleared away by Loïc Cloutier as Ottawa made a run of their own down the pitch.
A few moments later, Altobelli skied a volley over the bar, and Ottawa had a couple of opportunities with an Iker Moreno shot blocked and a chance from Antinoro saved by Urtiaga.
The score was 1-0 in favour of York at halftime despite Ottawa controlling most of the opening 45 minutes.
Atlético Ottawa win after four-goal second half
Ottawa came out strong in the second half and was persistent, taking advantage of York’s defensive miscues. There were two quick opportunities, as Cloutier’s redirected shot from the six-yard box was just dragged across the face of the goal, and Samuel Salter had a shot from outside the box sail just wide. Salter would get another opportunity to get on the scoresheet.
In the 51st minute, Antinoro drove down the byline past Luke Singh and crossed a low ball into the box, which was mishandled by Nyal Higgins. Salter pounced on the loose ball in the six-yard box and scooped a shot over Oswaldo Leon and Urtiaga into the back of the net to find the equalizer for Ottawa. Ottawa’s tenacity continued as they looked to extend their lead.
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In the 56th minute, off a set-piece, Juan Castro found Manuel Aparicio alone with space at the top of the box. Using that space, Aparicio hit a long-range knuckeball that dipped over an outstretched Urtiaga into the top left corner to put the hosts in front 2-1. Ottawa’s momentum continued as they dominated possession for the majority of the match.
In the 83rd minute, however, fortune favoured York off an unlikely play. A clearance by Ingham was intercepted by Ferrazzo in the middle of the field, which allowed him to drive down the left side. He fired a curling cross from outside the box that caught Ingham off guard, as the goalkeeper watched the ball drift over his head into the side netting off the post, which equalized the game 2-2. Both teams were stunned by the goal, but Ottawa went back to work to regain their lead.
In the 93rd minute, an Ottawa through ball skipped past the foot of Ferrazzo, which sent David Rodríguez one-on-one with Urtiaga. Rodríguez glided past Urtiaga but failed to put it in the empty net, squandering the chance to go ahead for Ottawa. At the other end, York had a great opportunity of their own. A mistimed touch by Amer Didic allowed Shola Jimoh space in the box, but his shot hit the left woodwork to keep the tie level.
With the last kick of the game, the deadlock was finally broken. Off a set piece, Kévin Santos’ cross was sent towards the penalty spot, where Noah Abatneh made no mistake, hitting the shot past Urtiaga into the bottom right corner to win the game 3-2 for Ottawa.
In a similar story to last week, York squandered a halftime lead and looked disconnected in the second half. Mauro Eustáquio said post-game, “I think again we gotta look at ourselves. I think, once again, we showed up in the first half, do what we have to, do what we plan, and then I feel like there’s an emotional disconnection to the game in the second half, and they were able to change the game around.”
York United will return home to face Forge FC on Sunday, April 27. Atlético Ottawa will look to build on their undefeated start against Cavalry FC in Calgary on Saturday, April 26.
