Last place in the Canadian Premier League standings in 2021. Top of the table in 2022. Atlético Ottawa’s incredible turnaround was made official this weekend as they celebrated winning the 2022 Canadian Premier League regular season title in front of their home fans on Sunday night at TD Place Stadium.
It was a special moment, not just for the young club, but for the Ottawa soccer community in general. Carl Haworth, who has played in the nation’s capital since the Ottawa Fury were a PDL team back in 2013 reflected on how special this moment was to be able to share with fans who have been supporting local soccer for so many years.
“These guys have been with us from the start, going back to the old Fury days you see a lot of the same faces,” Haworth told CanPL.ca’s Charlie O’Connor-Clarke after the match. “Just the atmosphere that they create, the winning product on the field that they have just galvanized and really felt that twelfth man in all those home games, and certain away games as well. So it feels amazing.”
"We love playing here, we love playing in front of these fans"
After tonight's regular season finale at TD Place, @atletiOttawa's @ccaarrllitos spoke to https://t.co/o4P5Mt4VxA's @charliejclarke #CanPL pic.twitter.com/eGu8eeODko
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 10, 2022
After the match, Atleti manager Carlos González expressed the fact that moments like this certainly aren’t guaranteed in a soccer career, so when they happen they should be appropriately celebrated. His players certainly took this advice to heart, enjoying the moment in the dressing room after the match.
Regular Season Champion Celebrations ??#ForOttawa | #PourOttawa pic.twitter.com/1dwVUgcij2
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) October 10, 2022
Nobody does it better than @CapitalCitySG and @BytownBoys ??#ForOttawa | #PourOttawa pic.twitter.com/bp1d0wC9ev
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) October 10, 2022
A night, and a regular season, to remember for @atletiOttawa ?#CanPL pic.twitter.com/QyCRUFAHJN
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 10, 2022
Next up for Ottawa is a playoff matchup with Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League semi-finals starting on Saturday, October 15 at Starlight Stadium. Despite this being their first-ever playoff appearance, Atleti feels that they have proven this year that they are up for any and all challengers.
"We have shown throughout the season that we are a team who is able to beat anyone, anywhere"@atletiOttawa is ready for the playoffs after going unbeaten for a ninth straight match in a 2-2 draw with @yorkutdfc ??
Match Analysis ⬇️#CanPL | ✍️: @charliejclarke
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 10, 2022