2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #32
Atlético Ottawa vs. Halifax Wanderers
June 3, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. AT
TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here

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The two sides who currently sit at the bottom of the Canadian Premier League table will meet on Saturday night in the nation’s capital as Atlético Ottawa host Halifax Wanderers at TD Place Stadium.

It is also a rematch of the opening fixture of the CPL season, where the sides played to a 1-1 draw in Ottawa. They have since met again, in the preliminary round of the Canadian Championship, which saw Atlético Ottawa emerge victorious 3-1 in a neutral site game played at York Lions Stadium.

Given how their respective seasons have gone since that last meeting, there will be a lot of pressure on both sides to pick up three points. Halifax are the only side in the league who have not won a match yet, while Atlético Ottawa are yet to win at home this season. The longer these streaks continue for these respective sides, the bigger of a storyline they become.

“I think that both of us are in a similar situation in which we don’t have many points, that the feelings of the team on how both are competing [well], that both are doing things well, but probably are not grabbing the results that they want to,” said Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos González.

Halifax did respond well to their first loss of the season, a lopsided 3-0 defeat against York United at home, with a solid 1-1 draw against Pacific last weekend during which they were dominant in the second half. Away from home this season, they have been remarkably consistent with five draws, five goals scored and five conceded.

Atleti, meanwhile, suffered their league-leading (tied with York United) third home loss last weekend against Forge FC in heartbreaking fashion as they conceded a stoppage-time goal to David Choinière. They have scored just twice at home this season, while conceding seven.

The loss to Forge prompted multiple Ottawa players to take to social media to apologize to supporters, including 2022 CPL Player of the Year Ollie Bassett. González says that everyone around the team, on and off the pitch, needs to be self-demanding and take responsibility as the club looks to turn a corner results-wise.

Firstly, I feel the need to apologise & I take full responsibility for the goal we conceded. If I don’t switch off in the dying minutes and leave my man unmarked then we take at least a point and move onto the next. There is no excuse. (1/2)

— Ollie Bassett (@OllieBassett28) May 27, 2023

Another area where both sides have room for improvement is defensively, as Ottawa and Halifax have conceded 10 and 9 goals respectively — with just a single clean sheet each. However, it is worth noting that both clubs have conceded roughly 1.67 goals more goals than expected so far this season, the highest negative difference in the league. This perhaps raises questions about the performances both clubs have been getting this season in net.

There is good news on that front for Atlético Ottawa as Nate Ingham has rejoined the club in training this week. He remains unlikely for this match but should prove to be an option again for González in the near future.

While the all-time record between the two sides is relatively even, Halifax are winless in the last seven meetings between the two sides. The Wanderers have also only won a single match in the nation’s capital in their history — including a 2-2 draw against the Ottawa Fury in the third qualifying round of the 2019 Canadian Championship.

All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980. Tous les matchs de l’Atlético Ottawa sont disponibles en français sur OneSoccer.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• A round of rematches brings an opportunity for a do-over for Atlético Ottawa: If it were possible, Atlético Ottawa would probably like a chance to play their first seven matches (or six of them at least) over again. Well they will in some ways get that chance over the next few weeks as they play the league’s seven other teams again in a reasonably similar order — starting with another home match against Halifax. It is an opportunity to take the difficult lessons they have been taught from their first meetings will all of these clubs and prove they are better than what they have shown to date. Four of the club’s next seven matches will also be away from home, which for most teams would present a challenge, but for a side as lethal away from home as Ottawa is probably a welcome sight. “Every time we will know them more and better, but I’m thinking also that the teams will change,” said González. “There will be new tweaks, so we have to have an eye on the evolution of each team but this is the third time we have played in the season against Halifax. I think that we know each other quite a lot now.”

• The first goal will be critical for both sides: A legitimate issue for both sides of late has been scoring the opening goal in matches. Atlético Ottawa has scored first just once this season, in their 5-0 victory against Vancouver FC, while Halifax has conceded the opening goal in their last three. Both sides have gained just two points from losing positions so far this season — with Ottawa’s Canadian Championship win over Halifax being the only time Atleti have ever come from behind to win a match under Carlos González in his entire tenure. Given the stylistic tendencies of both sides, especially the hosts, whoever scores first will likely give a good indication of who is going to pick up the three points.

• Can a familiar opponent ignite Ottawa attackers: A massive issue for Atlético Ottawa so far this season, their number 9s have scored just a single goal between them. Samuel Salter found the back of the net during the club’s 5-0 drubbing of Vancouver FC — but that came on one of just two shots on target so far this season, while Malcolm Shaw has yet to test a goalkeeper on two shot attempts. Ottawa desperately needs more from these two players, and a matchup against a familiar opponent could provide the antidote. Halifax is, of course, Salter’s former side, which always makes a match a little bit more meaningful for a player. Shaw, meanwhile, has played some of his best football against the Wanderers, against whom he has scored five times — the most against any opponent he has faced in his career. Shaw’s lone goal in all competitions in 2023 was off a header against Halifax in the Canadian Championship.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Atlético Ottawa (3-5-2): Melvin; Ouimette, Espejo, Singh; Haworth, Bassett, Acosta, Verhoeven, dos Santos; Salter, Shaw

Halifax Wanderers (4-3-3): Fillion; Ferrazzo, Nimick, Loughrey, Ruby; Rampersad, Callegari, Giraldo; Daniels, Collomb, Fernandez

ALL-TIME SERIES

Atlético Ottawa wins: 6 || Halifax Wanderers wins: 4 || Draws: 3

Last meeting:

April 19, 2023 — Halifax Wanderers 1-3 Atlético Ottawa 

KEY QUOTES

“If we have to be better to win the games, if we have to control better the details, if we have to play with more determination, if we have to push ourselves more, we will do it. We are in that moment where although we are competing not badly and the team is not showing a bad phase and we are getting near, but it’s not enough. So when things are not enough you have to give more.” — Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos González

“We play a style that is going to get you punished, like the goals we have given up off the counter. But we are going to stick to the plan and keep playing, and because we have such a new group we are going to continue to rotate guys to find the right fit.” — Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar