Atlético Suffers First Loss of the Season to Halifax Wanderers
Halifax shut out Ottawa 2-0 in a frustrating game for the Ottawa faithful.
Ottawa was held to 6 total shots in the game in what was a very different Ottawa team compared to their previous games. The absence of David Rodriguez was felt by Ottawa, who lacked that final attacking spark that should have led to a goal.
Halifax was able to execute their game plan perfectly with a high press and unrelenting pressure. The first half was mostly fought out in the midfield with not much action at either end of the pitch. The second half is where it came alive with Halifax scoring their first goal in the 75th minute from a freekick. Their second goal came shortly after Coulanges gave up a rather soft penalty, which debatably shouldn’t have been called at all. Telfer made no mistake with the penalty and made it 2-0. Halifax was able to hold out for the rest of the game to hand Ottawa their first loss of the 2025 season.
Lineup
Ingham starts in goal with Kozlovskiy, Abatneh, and Cloutier in front of him in defense. Dos Santos and Antinoro are the two wing-backs, while Aparicio and Castro are the midfield pivot. Salter is the lone man up front with Tabla and Sissoko out wide. Sissoko replaces Rodriguez this game as he is out due to a red card the previous game.
The bench is made up of Crampton as the backup keeper and Duhany-Walker, Patterson, Levis, Coulanges, Zapater, and Khoury.
Game Notes
The first five minutes of the game are a bit of a scrappy affair with both teams committing fouls and the first yellow card given to Halifax.
The grass pitch is giving Ottawa some trouble with passes not being complete or going where they are meant to go.
Dos Santos gets Ottawa’s first yellow card at the 25th minute mark.
Ottawa almost gets Tabla on a breakaway but Halifax was able to slide in a put the ball out of play before Tabla could get the ball in the 27th minute.
Ingham makes a good save in the 34th minute. He had to dive to his bottom left corner as the ball went skipping along the grass.
Aparicio and Tabla throw themselves in front of a shot by Halifax and end up making a good block in the 37th minute.
Salter with the first shot for Ottawa in the 45th minute but it goes over the crossbar and never really threatened Halifax’s goal.
Ottawa with a final little bit of attacking flair in added time of the first half but nothing really comes of it as the lone shot was off target.
Half time.
Halifax crosses a ball across the box. It beat Ingham but Dos Santos came sliding in but in the process almost put the ball into the back of his own net. He got lucky and the ball went wide in the 52nd minute.
Zapater and Coulanges come on for Sissoko and Dos Santos in the 64th minute.
Abatneh with a yellow card in the 66th minute.
Halifax makes it 1-0 with a header goal from a freekick in the 75th minute. Meilleur-Giguere was wide open Ottawa’s penalty box and made no mistake heading it in from close range.
Coulanges gives up a penalty in the 79th minute. Telfer scores for Halifax to make it 2-0.
Patterson comes on for Kozlovskiy in the 80th minute.
Levis and Duhany-Walker come on for Castro and Abatneh in the 85th minute.
Ottawa pour it all into attacking for the final few minutes but nothing comes of it.
Game ends 2-0 for Halifax.
Stats
Halifax had 46% possession to Ottawa’s 54%.
Halifax had 12 shots of which 4 were on target to Ottawa’s 6 and zero on target.
Halifax made 316 passes and Ottawa made 400.
Ottawa made 2 saves and Halifax made none.
Other News
Ottawa tied Forge in the last game 2-2, with goals from Salter and Dos Santos. Rodriguez got two yellow cards, which resulted in a red card. This game was on May 13th at 11am which resulted in the Atlético Gazette being unable to cover the match.
Ottawa will play York United over two legs in the CanChamp with the first home game June 11th at 7pm. The away leg will be on July 8th at 7pm. The away goal rule does not apply in the CanChamp anymore.