Atlético Ottawa have climbed into third place in the Canadian Premier League table, as they beat Vancouver FC 4-0 in a crucial six-pointer at TD Place on Wednesday.
Having entered this game tied with Vancouver, who were only ahead of Ottawa via tiebreakers, Ottawa managed to leapfrog them with a crucial head-to-head win.
For Ottawa, who have now won three straight in CPL play, they'll hope they can now maintain this position going forward, too, as they look to further rise up the table - Vancouver, meanwhile, will look to hit the reset button after this defeat, as this loss snapped a six-game unbeaten run for them in CPL play.
Knowing the importance of this game, both teams started strongly, as they looked to grab an early foothold in the match.
Both teams made some changes to their lineup, as Ottawa inserted Kamron Habibullah for Ballou Tabla after their comeback win vs. FC Supra du Québec on Sunday, while Vancouver brought in Henrik Regitnig, Paris Gee and Terran Campbell for Callum Irving, Kian Proctor and Lys Mousset, as they shook up the team that drew Pacific 1-1 last Friday.
After a couple of good early spells of possession from Vancouver, Ottawa started to find themselves in some dangerous areas in the final third.
Following a dangerous free kick attempt from Daniel Aguilar that sailed just over the net in the ninth minute, Gabriel Antinoro had an excellent chance for Ottawa in the 10th minute, as he got on the end of a dangerous low cross from Jean-Aniel Assi, but he just sliced his shot wide of the goal.
Having played provider on that chance, Assi decided to take matters into his own hands and generate a chance of his own in the 13th minute. It'd come on a brilliant solo effort, too, as Assi picked up the ball deep in midfield and danced through a couple of Vancouver players, going from a non-threatening position to a half-breakaway in an instant.
From there, he made no mistake with his finish, catching Vancouver goalkeeper Henrik Regitnig out of position with a low shot to put Ottawa up 1-0.
To their credit, Vancouver managed to find their feet quite quickly again after that goal, as they immediately began to push for an equalizer. After a couple of half-chances, they'd nearly find it in the 29th minute, too, as the ball fell to Nicolás Mezquida at the back post on a corner, and he managed to fire a dangerous right-footed shot, striking the post behind Ottawa goalkeeper Christopher Kalongo with his attempt.
Then, moments later, Damiano Pecile found Terran Campbell in behind Ottawa's defence with a clever through ball, but Campbell would send his shot into the outside of the net from a tight angle.
Vancouver's pressure would continue after the half-time break, as they kept pushing for that equalizer. As a result, they were able to fashion an excellent chance in the 51st minute, as the ball fell to Mohamed Amissi inside the box after a dangerous cross from Morey Doner, but Amissi's powerful shot was blocked by Ottawa defender Roni Mbomio, who bravely threw himself in front of the attempt.
Unfortunately for Vancouver, however, their comeback attempts would soon be thwarted by Assi, who popped up with another big moment for Ottawa in the 59th minute.
It'd come from another solo effort, too, as Assi managed to take a ball in stride at the edge of Vancouver's box, flicking it over defender Paris Gee before firing a half-volley into that top corner for an impressive solo goal.
That would prove to be a decisive goal for Ottawa, who would soon add a third less than five minutes later, as they started to play with all sorts of confidence.
This time, the play would start with a hopeful long ball, one that snuck through Vancouver's defence and onto the path of the onrushing Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau, who managed to drive into Vancouver's box and poke the ball home to all but secure the win for his side.
Not satisfied with that goal, Ottawa would further add to their lead in the 77th minute, as they put an exclamation point on their victory.
Once again, they managed to sneak behind Vancouver's backline, as Kamron Habibullah found Emiliano García with a dangerous through ball, and García did the rest from there, cutting into the box and firing home with his right foot for the goal. It wasn't instantly given as a goal, as there was an FVS review to determine if García was onside, but eventually it was determined that he timed his run properly and the goal was given.
If Fleuriau Chateau's goal wasn't enough, García's most definitely secured the result for Ottawa, who would cruise the rest of the way to earn all three points.
With both teams back in action this weekend, now look for them to quickly get back at it in a matter of days - for Ottawa, they'll look to take this momentum and channel it into a tough away game against Cavalry, while Vancouver will want to quickly forget this one as they get set for a trip of their own, as they head to Halifax.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Atlético Ottawa: Kalongo; Assi, Mbomio, Cloutier, Aguilar (Coulanges 71'); Antinoro, Arnaud (Khoury 83'), Aparicio, García (Castro 83'); Habibullah (Tabla 83'), Fleuriau Chateau (Abraham 71')
Vancouver FC: Regitnig; Doner, Campagna, Field (Proctor 78'), Gee; Polisi (Ouattara 29'), Pecile (Lee 68'); Bah, Mezquida (Toomey 46'), Amissi (Traore 68'); Campbell
Goals
*13' - Jean-Aniel Assi (Atlético Ottawa)
*
59' - Jean-Aniel Assi (Atlético Ottawa)
63' - Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (Atlético Ottawa)
77' - Emiliano García (Atlético Ottawa)
Discipline
39' - Yellow: Nicolás Mezquida (Vancouver FC)
51' - Yellow: Emiliano García (Atlético Ottawa)
90+4' - Yellow: Abdoulaye Ouattara (Vancouver FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Jean-Aniel Assi, Atlético Ottawa
Assi was extremely lively on both sides of the ball for Ottawa in this game, as he put in a big shift at right back.
Not only did he chip in with two goals, but he also created two chances and completed four out of five dribbles offensively, while also chipping in with four tackles, one block, two clearances, one interception, and five recoveries defensively to help Ottawa seal a dominant victory.
What's Next?
Ottawa will head to Alberta for their next game, as they'll take on Cavalry at ATCO Field on Saturday, August 22nd (2:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. ET). Vancouver, meanwhile, will head to Nova Scotia as a clash with the Halifax Wanderers awaits them at Wanderers Grounds earlier that same Saturday (11:00 a.m. PT/3:00 p.m. AT).