RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Atlético Ottawa vs. Vancouver FC | October 12, 2025

The CPL Shield will be decided on the final day of the CPL season as Atlético Ottawa kept their hopes alive in a 0-0 draw with Vancouver FC.

Atleti knew that a loss would end their hopes winning the regular season, but were able to hang on for a crucial point. They now go into the final match of the season needing a victory, and Forge FC to lose at home to York, in order to win the Shield.

It was the sixth meeting between the two clubs in all competitions, and the first since Vancouver FC had eliminated the capital club from the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship on aggregate.

While Vancouver FC have been eliminated from playoff contention for several weeks, it was them who came out of the gate looking the hungrier of the two sides. They won three corners inside the opening 15 minutes putting the Atleti backline under pressure quickly

Perhaps feeling the weight of the moment, Atleti often tried to force things in their few attacking forays, quickly turning over the ball to the visitors trying to play through the lines when a simpler pass was on to keep possession.

Neither side were able to generate any true chances through the opening half hour, with the closest a strike from Abdoulaye Ouattara from outside the box that sailed over Nate Ingham's goal.

The Eagles, in particular, were outstanding defensively, doing well to get numbers back in transition and making sure Atleti's most dangerous players were starved of service.

Salter finally got free down the right in the 43rd minute, but Allan Enyou did brilliantly to get back and dispossess him. A rather uneventful first half ended with the score 0-0.

Vancouver had a couple of great chances early in the second half, first a free header for Hugo Mbongue off a corner that he sent wide, and then a chance to play the wide-open Vancouver striker into the box on which Outtara overhit his pass. The hosts responded with a strike from Joaquim Coulanges that forced a good save from Callum Irving.

Salter had a decent opportunity in the 64th minute when Aparicio played a lovely ball over the top into his path. But the Golden Boot leader didn't realize how much time he had as he took the ball down and set it well wide of the net.

In the 68th minute, Atleti came incredibly close to opening the scoring. Gabriel Antinoro picked the ball up in the centre of the park and sent a rocket goalward that hit the post to Irving's right.

What had been a cagey match got a little more open in the late stages with some great chances for both sides in transition. Atlético Ottawa thought they had won a penalty in the 77th minute, but Matteo Campagna looked to have timed his tackle perfectly to get to the ball before Juan Castro.

In the 80th minute, Rodríguez was played into the box, but Irving came out and denied him. He then made a brilliant diving save on Kevin Dos Santos just a minute later.

Vancouver FC's Thierno Bah nearly broke his hometown's hearts in the 86th minute, as he broke in behind. But he passed a ball just wide on a strike that could have handed Forge FC the title.

Instead, Atleti live another day in the title race, but will head to Halifax needing a victory, and a big hand from Ontario rivals York United in Hamilton.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Mbombio (Kozlovskiy 81'), Abatneh, Levis (Duhaney-Walker 81'); Antinoro (Khoury 81'), Castro (Zapater 78'), Aparicio, Coulanges (Dos Santos 57'); Rodríguez, Tabla, Salter

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke, Enyou, Campagna, Gee; Try; Powell (Verhoven 63'), Outtara (Mezquida 73'), Fotsing (Cavalcante 63'), Bah; Mbongue (Ndiaye 86')

Goals

N/A

Discipline

36' — Yellow: Vasco Fry (Vancouver FC)
39' -- Yellow: Abdoulaye Ouattara (Vancouver FC)
72' -- Yellow: Michel Cavalcante (Vancouver FC)
88' -- Yellow: Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC)
90+3' -- Yellow: Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa)
90+5' -- Yellow: Kunle Dada-Luke (Vancouver FC)
90+5' -- Yellow: Nicholas Mézquida (Vancouver FC)