Matches between York United and Atlético Ottawa rarely disappoint.
In a thrilling, back-and-forth, offensive showdown, Ottawa and York shared the points after a hotly contested 2-2 draw.
It was an open, expansive, and creative affair, a nice change of pace from the last two league games these teams played, which ended in 0-0 draws.
Despite playing a great game overall, it is a huge missed opportunity for Atlético, who would’ve gone level on points with Forge FC (14-7-2, 49 points) had they beaten York. Ottawa took the lead twice, yet gave it up on both occasions after defensive lapses in concentration.
Prior to today, Atlético had only dropped two points from a winning position this season. That tally has now doubled, and Ottawa remains two points behind league leaders Forge, with a 13-8-2 record (47 points).
Sam Salter scored twice to improve his regular-season tally to 17 and all but seal his Golden Boot victory; he’s ahead of second place by six. However, on both occasions, York United equalized within five minutes to ensure Ottawa’s joy was short-lived.
Statistically, it was an incredibly effective day for both squads.
York United won the xG battle 2.87 to 1.8 and outshot Ottawa 16-15, yet Ottawa had eight shots on target to York’s six. Each team created four big chances.
Ottawa has prided itself on the defensive side of the ball, so giving up an xG of over 2.0 for only the third time and six shots on goal or more for the fourth time this season will be disappointing. According to Atlético Ottawa head coach Diego Mejia, York’s chances were not created by their own offensive prowess because Ottawa approached this game differently.
“[York] created a lot of chances, but because we didn’t play in the way we always play,” said Atlético Ottawa head coach Diego Mejia. “Because, for the time of possession that we had, we received 16 shots against. I think it was an open match, but more because of our behaviour.”
Where Atlético Ottawa had the clear edge was possession, a category they dominated 67 to 33 percent. Ottleti dictated the pace and tempo of the match, playing much of it on the front foot. To control possession so much and still get outchanced, Atlético is fortunate to secure a point.
Part of the reason is the injuries and changes to Ottawa’s backline as of late. Loïc Cloutier played in the middle of Rony Mbomio and Brett Levis, but Levis was subbed off after only 40 minutes with injury and had to be replaced by the returning Noah Abatneh. Ottawa’s back three didn’t look in sync throughout the match –especially when the ball was turned over in dangerous areas– and misplaced a handful of key passes when playing out from the back.
Despite Ottawa’s aggressive playmaking and chance creation, York will feel like they were the more deserving of the two teams to secure all three points, especially when you factor in the makeshift back-three Ottawa deployed today.
Nate Ingham, making his 101st appearance for Ottawa in all competitions, made a handful of critical saves that secured Ottawa a point, including an enormous save to deny Shaun Hundal on a breakaway in first-half stoppage time. Ingham challenged at exactly the right time to make himself look big and take away Hundal’s shooting angle.
Hundal had a hat-trick of missed chances, but his one-on-one against Ingham, where he took one too many touches, will haunt him the most. Julian Altobelli also hit the crossbar on a wonderful solo effort midway through the second half.
Realistically, the match could’ve gone either way. In second half stoppage time, Atlético created numerous quality chances and came close to winning it multiple times. Sam Salter and David Rodriguez had a chance saved by Diego Urtiaga, and crosses into the box by Joaquim Coulanges and Jean Aniel Assi were hit too high for any attacker to get a head on it.
Manu Aparicio was phenomenal for Atlético, providing a beautiful pass to assist on Salter’s second goal, while being a force both defensively –leading the team with three tackles and five ground duels won– and in transition with a team-leading 16 final third entries.
Despite having ample possession, Ottawa had a bit of a harder time getting into the final third and creating quality chances once there. Atlético had 68 final third entries to York’s 51, but once in the final third, passing and shooting lanes closed down quickly.
Part of the reason why is York deploying a back-four with two defensive holding midfielders for the first time since the final game of the 2024 season. Steffen Yeates returned to the lineup to form a double-pivot with Kembo Kibato, allowing Leonel López to play a more advanced role as an attacking midfielder. He provided several key through-balls and made numerous advanced runs to create scoring chances for his teammates, including a delicious pass to send Hundal on a breakaway late in the first half that he really should’ve scored.
“It gave us a lot of things going forward,” said York Head Coach Mauro Eustáquio. “Obviously, with the extra man there in the midfield, (it) created a lot of three-v-twos. It was something we wanted; we wanted to give Leo a lot more of the ball, and he did. So again, I think the execution of the game plan was good.”
In all five previous games against Atlético this season, York played a back three, which gave Ottawa’s dangerous wingers and forwards a lot of space to dribble, run, and pass into. Ottawa was lethal on the counter against a back three.
Next up for Atlético Ottawa, a home match against Vancouver FC in the semifinals of the Canadian Championship, where they currently trail 3-1 on aggregate.
Next Sunday, they play a crucial home game against Forge FC; the winner of which will claim first place in the Canadian Premier League and be huge favourites to win the CPL Shield.
In both matches, Atlético will have to tighten up defensively –especially against Vancouver, where they cannot afford to concede another goal– and they will have to be clinical and ruthless in the final third to match Forge’s offensive intensity.
Up next for York, a huge match away to last-place Vancouver FC, which will be a critical result in their race for third place. York currently sits three points behind third-place Cavalry.
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