Matchday #4 of CPL action came to an end with a draw, as Vancouver FC and Atlético Ottawa combined for a 1-1 result at Langley’s Willoughby Community Park on Sunday.

With that, Vancouver snapped a two-game losing streak, while Ottawa remained undefeated through five games to start the 2024 CPL season, as both teams were unable to break open the game despite a back-and-forth second-half.

Amid a quiet first half, Vancouver FC’s Gabriel Bitar had the first good chance for either team in this game, as he stepped up to take a free kick won by Moses Dyer, but he curled his shot comfortably into the hands of Rayane Yesli in the Ottawa goal.

At the other end, Ottawa came close to scoring in the 11th minute, as Ballou Tabla got on the end of a nice Ollie Bassett pass into the box, but Tabla’s tight-angle shot would be denied by an excellent diving stop from Vancouver’s Callum Irving in goal.

After that, the game slowed down, before Tabla found some life again in the 30th minute. There, Rubén del Campo found Tabla in stride with a perfect through ball, but Tabla’s first shot would be saved by Irving, his rebound would be blocked by a sprawling Anthony White, before Aboubacar Sissoko would have a third look for Ottawa, one that would be just deflected wide of the net.

Continuing to threaten Vancouver’s backline, Tabla nearly played provider in the 43rd minute, finding del Campo with a perfect pass into the middle of the box, but del Campo was unable to generate a shot despite his dangerous position.

On the other side of half time, however, Ottawa finally found their opening goal. After dispossessing White deep in Vancouver’s half, Tabla found a wide-open Bassett in the box, and while his shot was kept out by an outstanding save by Irving, del Campo was there to jam in the rebound to give his team the lead.

Eager to respond quickly, Vancouver came closes to responding shortly after. On a free kick, Renan Garcia stung the hands of Yesli from distance, before Bitar had a dangerous look at goal on the rebound, one that Yesli also stood tall to.

Then, Bitar curled a dangerous shot from outside of the box in the 62nd minute, sending his shot just past the post of a rooted Yesli.

That pressure would pay off for Vancouver in the 68th minute, however. After some nice build-up play, Kadin Chung whipped in a dangerous cross, one that substitute Alejandro Díaz would rise perfectly to meet, heading the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Soon after, Díaz almost made it two on the day in the 79th minute, as he got on the end of a dangerous Paris Gee cross, forcing a fingertip save out of Yesli to keep the game tied.

Wanting to recover their earlier lead, Ottawa had an excellent chance to find a winner in the 90th minute, as Maxim Tissot flashed a dangerous volley towards goal from just outside of the box, forcing Irving into a nervy catch with his attempt. Right after, Kris Twardek nearly caused problems in the Vancouver box, sending a cross right into their six-yard box, forcing an awkward save for Irving.

Continuing their strong end to the game, Ottawa had another great look right after that, as the ball fell to Sissoko in the box, but despite sending a dangerous shot from in-close, Irving managed to get down and catch the shot.

From there, however, that was all both teams would be able to find, leaving them to settle for a draw in the end.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Vancouver FC: Irving; Chung, Enyou, White, Gee; Fry, Garcia; Fisk (Díaz 46′), Bitar (Verhoven 64′), Cantave (Bah 72′); Dyer (Dzikowski 89′)

Atlético Ottawa: Yesli, Twardek, Didić, Singh, de Brienne (Tissot 76′); Sissoko, Zapater, Aparicio; Tabla (Antinoro 64′), Bassett (Morer 64′); del Campo (Salter 77′)

Goals

56′ — Rubén del Campo (Atlético Ottawa) 

68′ — Alejandro Díaz (Vancouver FC) 

Discipline

19′ — Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)

37′ — Yellow: Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)

46′ — Yellow: Mikaël Cantave (Vancouver FC)

73′ — Yellow: Elage Bah (Vancouver FC)

76′ — Yellow: Matteo de Brienne (Atlético Ottawa)

80′ — Yellow: Zach Verhoven (Vancouver FC)

83′ — Yellow: Moses Dyer (Vancouver FC)

90+2′ — Yellow: Vasco Fry (Vancouver FC)

90+5′ — Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (Atlético Ottawa)