Preview CPL FINAL: Atlético Ottawa v Forge FC October 30
October 27, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release
History is set to be made in Ottawa this weekend as Atlético Ottawa host the 2022 Canadian Premier League Final against Forge FC at TD Place (KO 6 PM ET). Completing their ‘worst to first’ journey, Head Coach Carlos González’s side is undefeated in 11 games but remains the underdog in this final. In order to lift the North Star Sheild they must beat a team that, under the tutelage of Head Coach Bobby Smyrniotis, is heading to its fourth consecutive CPL Final match.
Following an enthralling semi-final in front of a boisterous crowd of nearly 8,500 people at TD Place last weekend, Atlético look to “make this a CPL and Club attendance record, surpassing the 12,064 we had in our first-ever home game back in august 2021,” according to club CEO Fernando López.
Let’s take a look back at Atlético’s road to Sunday’s CPL Final.
After a disappointing campaign in 2021, Atlético Ottawa made some drastic changes during the offseason.
Coach of the year nominee González, alongside a new coaching team which included the addition of Carleton Ravens’ Kwesi Loney, were brought in to provide a fresh perspective.
“The goals that I’ve set are to think day by day, focus on match by match and be capable to compete against every team in the league,” said González speaking to AJ from TSN1200 at the start of the season.
A quote that would become his mantra, and the team’s rallying cry: One More Match, One More Final.
Only seven players returned from the previous season, as the club made 16 new signings, including 2022 award nominees Ballou Tabla, Ollie Bassett and Nathan Ingham.
Atlético Ottawa were given a new identity, focussing on shoring up their defensive line and keeping the opposition at bay whilst being encouraged to “enjoy the suffering” that comes with it.
Led by captain Drew Beckie, Atleti only conceded 29 goals across 28 games – the second-best defensive record in the league – compared to 47 goals conceded in 2021.
Spanish trio Miguel Acosta (returning after 2021), Diego Espejo and Sergio Camus have excelled whilst Gatineau-native Maxim Tissot has also had a stand-out season.
As the season progressed, Ottawa found their attacking momentum finishing the campaign with the third-best attack in the league.
The goals were well distributed throughout the team, with new signings Tabla and Bassett – winner of the supporters’ Player of the Season – as well as returnee Brian Wright leading the club’s scoring charts.
Tabla, 23, scored the Goal of the Season with an acrobatic effort against Cavalry.
Despite struggling with injuries, Malcolm Shaw and Zach Verhoven have both returned to play their part in the final third in recent weeks with crucial goals in the playoff semi-finals.
Stand-out games from the 2022 campaign include:
Atlético Ottawa’s first-ever win over Forge FC (1-0 courtesy of an Ollie Bassett free-kick) on July 3.
The away win over York United in front of a large contingent of loud travelling supporters on July 24.
Atleti’s first CPL Playoff appearance, beating Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium for the first time in club history, on October 15.
Record head-to-head (all-time): 1W-2D-7L; 2 goals scored, 19 goals conceded.
In 2022, the two sides split results, each winning a match on the road and the other two finishing in hotly contested draws.
Squad update: Niba Macdonald (out – injury), Iván Perez (tentative – injury), Keven Alemán (tentative – injury), Drew Beckie (tentative – injury).
CPL Final Format:
The CPL Final will be a single championship match played on October 30th.
If the score is tied at the conclusion of the match, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety.
If the match is still tied after the extra time periods, it will be decided by a penalty-kick shootout.
QUOTES
Carlos González, Atlético Ottawa Head Coach
“It’s going to be a special game. We’ve seen how the fanbase has been increasing and we feel the support of the city and hope they will come here on Sunday and lift us. We have created a habit throughout this season, a habit to play finals and to focus quickly on our next targets. Forge are a great team and they are the favourites, having played four finals in four years, but we will be here with our fans and have a great desire to win.”
MATCH DAY MEDIA CREDENTIALS
Members of the media wishing to attend the match should have requested their credentials by email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]. Last-minute requests must be submitted no later than Friday at noon for consideration; any requests made past that deadline may not be approved. Due to the volume of demand, priority will be given to media members from major/recognized outlets, with additional spots open as available.
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