In an all-Ontarian midweek clash at TD Place, the points were shared between the provincial rivals as York United and Atlético Ottawa played to a 1-1 draw on Wednseday evening where a 65th minute penalty kick converted by York’s Álvaro Rivero was answered in the dying moments by the home side through Alberto Soto.

The only change for Atlético from Saturday’s 2-1 win over HFX Wanderers was on the sideline as Mista retroactively served his 1 game suspension with assistant coach Ajay Khabra assuming head coaching duties against York. Viti Martinez continues to regain his fitness and while he was left out of the XI, his availability early on from the bench was an encouraging sign for Ottawa’s midfield.

For the Nine Stripes, there were three changes to the team that won 3-2 away at Wanderers Grounds back on August 7, two of them forced as Isaiah Johnston picked up a fourth caution against Halifax and Ijah Halley was forced off at half time through injury last time out — Cedric Toussaint and Nicholas Hamilton came in for the aforementioned pair. The other swap for Jimmy Brennan came up top as Lowell Wright was preferred to lead the line over Julian Ulbricht after scoring the late winner as a substitute in that victory over HFX.

Nicholas Hamilton had the two best initial chances to open the scoring for York midway through the first half within the span of a minute only to be denied by Dylan Powley on both occassions.

After the pair of Hamilton chances, the game opened up to close the first half with opportunities at both ends coming with regularity. Niko Giantsopoulos kept the scoreline at 0-0 in the 33rd minute, stopping a powerful Malcolm Shaw header on the goal line with a strong right hand.

Following the interval, chances dried up once again and Jimmy Brennan turned to his bench in search of a second wind, making a triple substitution just before the hour mark.

Brennan and York would get exactly that as substitute Rivero would open the scoring in the 65th minute as he cooly deposited a spot kick down the middle after Max Ferrari earned his side the penalty.

Just as it looked like Ottawa would have no answer for Giantsopoulos on the night, Soto solved the York keeper from outside the box with a perfectly placed finish in the 89th minute to level things up in the dying moments.

With the draw, Atlético stay undefeated at home to date while York pick up points in three straight contests away from York Lions Stadium.

BOX SCORE

Goals

65′ — Álvaro Rivero – PK (York United)

89′ — Alberto Soto (Atlético Ottawa)

Discipline

56′ — Yellow: Ben McKendry (Atlético Ottawa)

58′ — Yellow: Cedric Toussaint (York United)

73′ — Yellow: Ryan Telfer (Atlético Ottawa)