Atlético Ottawa celebrated Diego Mejía's final match as head coach with a 2-1 victory over Forge FC at TD Place on Sunday.
Joaquim Coulanges' curling strike in the 87th minute was the difference after Forge thought they had stolen a point late. The win meant that in all competitions, Diego Mejía never lost at TD Place, a stunning 21 unbeaten.
The match will be Mejía's last behind the Atleti bench as the club announced he is departing at the end of May for a new professional opportunity abroad. After receiving a yellow card for dissent in the 59th minute, Mejía will be suspended for what would have been his final match with Atlético Ottawa next Saturday against Pacific FC.
With both sides picking up a victory last week, they named unchanged Starting XIs -- with league-leading Forge in particular now keeping things consistent for multiple matches.
Atleti quickly went on the front foot, with Ballou Tabla galloping down the flank in the 13th minute before rounding Dan Nimick and squaring the ball to Jonantán Villal. The Atleti winger's strike beat Dimitry Bertaud, but not Rezart Rama, who got back to make an incredible defensive play and send the ball wide.
The hosts had a solid chance again mere moments later, as Emiliano García sent an acrobatic bicycle kick goalward, but he just missed the top right corner. In the buildup to that play, Atlético Ottawa felt that Brian Wright had handled in the box, and issued an FVS challenge, but no penalty was awarded.
Tabla again did well to hold up the ball in the 32nd minute before slipping in Gabriel Antinoro, but the latter could not get his shot on target. Moments later, Forge had a great chance as Tristan Borges beat his man down the line and cut the ball back, but Hoce Massunda wasn't ready for the pass, and it skittered harmlessly wide of the net.
Borges was the most likely Forge player during the opening half, and came close again on a lovely curling effort in the 41st minute, but again his strike was just wide of target.
Forge had one last chance before the half on a route one ball over the top from Bertaud to Brian Wright, but Abatneh did brilliantly to shield him away from goal. Despite the chances at both ends, the match was level at the half.
Early in the second half, the referee was back at the monitor to look at another potential penalty incident, this time on a challenge by Forge as Abatneh got a hold of Antoine Batisse's shirt in the box. Once again, however, no penalty was awarded.
In the 67th minute, Atlético's persistence paid off. On the second phase of a corner kick, Daniel Aguilar's cross found a wide-open Emiliano García at the back post. His diving header was denied by Bertaud, but Abatneh was first to the rebound to open the scoring.
With all the momentum on their side, Atleti stayed on the front foot, and came close again on Antinoro's deflected strike in the 73rd minute.
Forge looked like they had spoiled the party late when substitute Ismael Oketoukoun finished off a great sequence started by a Ben Paton ball over the top, before Maxime Bourgeois played it across for Ismael Oketoukoun to tap home.
The Hammers had one more FVS challenge for a penalty before the end of the match, but again, no penalty was awarded.
In their seventh match of the season, it was the first time Forge suffered defeat, as well as the first time they have conceded multiple goals, or even a goal from open play.
Lineups
Atlético Ottawa: Crampton; Mbombio, Abatneh, Aguilar; Assi (Coulanges 68'), Castro, Aparicio, Antinoro (Myklebust 90'); Villal (Habibullah 90'), García (Timoteo 80'), Tabla (Cloutier 90')
Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, Batisse, Jevremović; Aromatario (Krützen 76'), Paton, Jensen (Babouli 76'); Borges (Filion 68'), Wright (Oketoukoun 68'), Massunda (Bourgeois 80')
Goals
67' — Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa)
84' -- Ismael Oketoukoun (Forge FC)
87' -- Joaquim Coulanges (Atlético Ottawa)
Discipline
43' — Yellow: Manu Aparicio (Atlético Ottawa)
56' -- Yellow: Anthony Aromatario (Forge FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Juan Castro, Atlético Ottawa
The Atleti midfielder was crucial to setting the tempo for his side on Sunday in an absolutely brilliant outing in the centre of the park at TD Place. He completed 56 of 57 passes and won five of seven duels, making two tackles.
What’s next?
Atlético Ottawa head out west to Starlight Stadium, taking on Pacific FC on Saturday, May 30 (6 p.m. ET).
Forge are back home at Hamilton Stadium to host rivals Cavalry FC on Sunday, May 31 (4 p.m. ET).
For broadcast details of the 2026 CPL season, go to cplsoccer.com/watch.