2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #104
Atlético Ottawa vs. Valour FC
September 24 at 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CT
TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here

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Matchweek 24 of 26 concludes in the nation’s capital on Sunday afternoon, as Atlético Ottawa host Valour FC at TD Place, looking to pick up some valuable points in their chase for a playoff spot.

Despite a recent dip in form, Ottawa still holds onto the final playoff spot entering the weekend, one point more than York United, who host league-leaders Cavalry FC on Saturday. The regular season title is now out of reach for Ottawa, but with the teams above them being so close together, there is a chance for them to move up and get a better position, and potentially host a playoff game.

Valour, meanwhile, were eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to Vancouver FC midweek, and now see themselves at the bottom of the CPL table.

These sides have met each other three times this season, with the first match ending in a draw and Ottawa winning the next two. The all-time series is more even, with four wins apiece and three draws. Ottawa are winless in their last five matches, and their most recent victory actually came against Valour FC on August 18 — a 3-1 win for the visitors at IG Field, thanks in part to an Ollie Bassett brace.

Ottleti could receive a boost this week in the personnel department, as Carlos Gonzalez revealed on Friday that everyone on the roster was able to train this week. That presumably includes Diego Espejo and Abou Sacko, both of whom have struggled with injuries at times this season, but appear to be getting back for the most important stretch.

For Valour, meanwhile, it will be interesting to see who gets the nod to start in goal. The net has been Rayane Yesli’s for most of the season, but Darlington Murasiranwa got the start midweek and put in a great shift. Phil Dos Santos could opt to give him the start again to see what he brings to the table, as Yesli is for the most part a known commodity.

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3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Ottawa need to turn form around, and fast: About a month ago, Atlético Ottawa were firmly in the race for the regular season title, which would have been their second in a row after finishing top of the table in 2022. Instead, with just three matches to be played, Ottawa are fighting for their lives after a recent poor run of form. The capital city club are winless in their last five matches, with three losses and two draws, with four of those matches coming against teams that currently occupy a playoff spot. In all three of those losses, Ottawa conceded in second-half stoppage time as well, so closing out games will be a focus as they look to quickly turn around their form. Ottawa sit in the fifth and final playoff spot heading into the weekend, and while the regular season title is now out of reach, securing a home playoff game by finishing in the top four certainly isn’t impossible. Entering the postseason in good form would be a boost as well to a team that has proven it can beat anyone home or away, but before they can think about the playoffs they need to take care of business in their final three regular season games — starting on Sunday against Valour.

• Valour eliminated, but want to end the season on a high: After Wednesday night’s defeat at home to Vancouver FC midweek, Valour FC have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, and as a club are still yet to get their first taste of postseason action through five seasons. Despite missing out again, there are still three matches left for Phil Dos Santos’ side to give a good account of themselves, and potentially play spoiler for other teams. They play Ottawa on Sunday, before visiting Cavalry FC next weekend, and end the season a week later in front of their home fans at IG Field as they host the Halifax Wanderers in match 28 of 28. Those will be three difficult matches against teams in the hunt for silverware, but as Dos Santos and the players have been saying for a few weeks now, they owe it to their fans and to themselves to put up a good performance. It also provides individual players with an opportunity to prove they belong in the team next season, especially those players out of contract this offseason.

• The farewell to an Ottawa soccer legend: This week, Atlético Ottawa captain Carl Haworth announced that he will retire at the end of the 2023 season, which is in a few weeks’ time. Sunday’s match at TD Place is Ottleti’s final home match of the 2023 regular season, and if they don’t finish fourth or higher to get a home playoff game, will be the final home match of his career. In addition to his two seasons in the CPL with Atlético Ottawa, Haworth played for the Ottawa Fury from 2013 to 2019, combining for over 200 professional matches representing the capital city. The club and its fans will celebrate Haworth on Sunday, and are hoping to send him out with some silverware as well. “Carl is a legend of football in the city,” said Carlos Gonzalez. “I think that he is so important for the team. Although he hasn’t had so many minutes this season because of that injury, but I think he has always helped the team from all positions. The most important thing is how he is as a leader and a person, he’s a powerful player inside the locker room. We have to fight to give the best ending to that marvellous career that he had, and of course it will be a special game for him and all of us because he’s a very important player in the club.”

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Acosta, Ouimette, Singh; Assi, Bassett,  Zapater, Iliadis, Tissot; Salter, Del Campo

Valour FC: Murasiranwa; Baquero, Pianelli, Cela, Haynes; Campbell, Polisi, Gutiérrez; Niyongabire, Williams, de Brienne

ALL-TIME SERIES

Atlético Ottawa wins: 4 || Valour FC wins: 4 || Draws: 3

Last meeting:

August 18, 2023 – Valour FC 1-3 Atlético Ottawa

KEY QUOTES

“I think this is going to be a tricky game. I don’t think that we should focus too much on them. We have to think what we have to do and what we have to expect from us, I think this is the key for the match this weekend. Valour are in a difficult situation, but also we’re coming from a tough month so we have to try and bounce back as soon as possible. There is not going to be a better scenario than here at TD Place with our supporters behind us.” — Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos Gonzalez

“If someone wants to know what our season has been like, just watch today’s game.” — Valour FC head coach Phil Dos Santos after the loss to Vancouver FC on Wednesday