Atlético Ottawa kicked off the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship with a bang on Tuesday, coming from a goal down to beat Toronto FC 3-1 at BMO Field and move on to the quarterfinals.
It was the first time a Canadian Premier League side had ever beaten Toronto, and Ottawa's first triumph against a Major League Soccer foe — in their first attempt in this competition.
Ballou Tabla played the hero for Atleti, who scored twice in the second half to turn things around on a dime and erase TFC's 1-0 halftime lead.
Ottawa came into the game with confidence, aiming to hit their stride despite a frustrating start to the league season.
It was Toronto FC, however, who opened the scoring, hitting the CPL side on a quick transition. Derek Etienne Jr. picked up a long through ball on the right edge of the penalty area, and he wasted no time feeding it back across goal. Deandre Kerr, holding off an Ottawa defender, got to the cross first and his outstretched leg redirected it in for an early TFC lead.
At the other end, though, Atleti came alive again in the 10 minutes before halftime. Jean-Aniel Assi was lively on the right flank, pushing play forward and creating a few opportunities — including one for himself, which TFC keeper Luka Gavran kept out with his shoulder. Ballou Tabla, as well, looked more dangerous than he had in recent CPL games, challenging defenders and running into space high up the pitch, but he found his efforts stymied as well.
Atlético Ottawa thus went into the break down 1-0, but fairly encouraged by their first 45 minutes.
After another 25 minutes of similar back-and-forth in the second half, the match took a considerable turn. Atleti survived a handful of good chances from TFC, and then took over entirely.
In the 70th minute, Ottawa returned to the attacking half. Gabriel Antinoro, who had just switched to the right flank, picked up the ball and laid it off for Roni Mbomio.
The forward-rushing defender Mbomio picked out a clever pass through traffic to Tabla near the penalty spot, and Tabla managed to corral the ball and turn toward goal, slotting it into the bottom left corner.
Tabla again, just 10 minutes later, stunned the Toronto crowd into further silence. TFC's defenders couldn't take control fo a ball back toward them, and Tabla picked it up cleanly, sending himself through on goal all alone.
The Ottawa winger kept calm on his way through and delivered the ball expertly into the bottom right corner, sending the visitors' bench into euphoric celebration.
Atleti's defence held firm for the final 10 minutes, and put the icing on the cake with the final moment, as Tabla played hero again.
He won a penalty kick, and buried it coolly to his left to complete the hat trick, and send the CPL champions through to the quarterfinals.
As TFC left the pitch to a serenade of boos, Atlético Ottawa rejoiced with the fans and family members in attendance in the stadium's northeast corner.
"We are a team that if we follow the plan, we can compete all the time," Ottawa coach Diego Mejía told reporters postmatch. "In soccer and in life. If you really want to have success, you need to work on the things that you don't like to do."
Ottawa had been struggling in the CPL so far this season, with Mejía directing his team to stick vehemently to a possession-based style of play focused on short passing and building out of the back.
On Tuesday, he was vindicated. His team flashed many of the principles Mejía has been preaching, and they picked the right moments to counter-press TFC
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Toronto FC: Gavran; Gilman, Fisher, Zimmerman (Monlouis 63’), Franklin; Osorio (Coello 46’), Bossenberry, Cimermancic (Henry 73’); Nolan (Edwards 63’), Kerr (Aristizábal 63’), Etienne Jr.
Atlético Ottawa: Crampton; Mbombio, Abatneh, Kozlovskiy; Aguilar (Habibullah 87’), Aparicio, Castro (Stojadinović 89'), Assi (Timoteo 63’); Antinoro, García (Myklebust 74’), Tabla
Goals
16' – Deandre Kerr (Toronto FC)
72’ – Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
86’ – Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
90+7’ – Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)
Discipline
40' - Yellow: Daniel Aguilar (Atlético Ottawa)
54’ – Yellow: Emiliano García (Atlético Ottawa)
56’ – Yellow: Gabriel Antinoro (Atlético Ottawa)
68’ – Yellow: Derek Etienne Jr. (Toronto FC)
90+5’ – Yellow: Alonso Coello (Toronto FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Ballou Tabla, Atlético Ottawa
Tabla’s hat-trick was the difference for Atleti in their stunning upset. He is now tied for first all-time in Canadian Championship history with eight goals.
What’s next?
Atlético Ottawa advance to take on the winner of Friday’s clash between FC Supra du Quebec and OPL champions Woodbridge Strikers.
Atlético Ottawa are back in action in the CPL on Sunday, May 17 when they host the Halifax Wanderers on TD Place (1 p.m. ET).
All TELUS Canadian Championship action is available live on OneSoccer.
