A long-range precision strike from midfielder Alberto Soto in the 89th minute salvaged a late 1-1 draw for Atlético Ottawa against York United FC on Aug. 18, as Atlético remains undefeated in their two games since debuting at TD Place in Ottawa.
Midfielder Zach Verhoven stole the ball from York in the offensive half before laying off a delicate pass to Soto at the top of the box. Soto’s left-footed strike found the bottom-right corner to equalize late in the match.
“It took us a little bit of time to get into the game, but once we started playing the way we wanted to play and executing, I think we were the team on top,” Ottawa assistant coach Ajay Khabra said.
Khabra filled in for head coach Miguel Ángel Ferrer Martínez, who goes by Mista, who was serving a suspension after being ejected from a match earlier this season. Mista received permission to delay his suspension, allowing him to coach Ottawa’s inaugural match at TD Place on Aug. 14.
“If there was one team that was going to win [the draw], it was us,” Khabra said. “Unfortunately, football doesn’t work like that and you’ve got to make the most of your chances.”
York had taken the lead earlier in the second half when forward Álvaro Rivero converted on a penalty kick. The penalty was awarded after the ball hit defender Milovan Kapor’s outstretched arm in the box. Rivero slotted the ensuing penalty into the middle of the net past Ottawa goalkeeper Dylon Powley.
Powley and York goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos were strong in net for both sides, each registering five saves on six shots on goal.
Ottawa remains in eighth in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) standings through its first 12 matches. Atlético lost its preliminary-round match of the 2021 Canadian Championship 3-2 on Saturday against Valour FC and will return to CPL action with an 8 p.m. match against Forge FC on Aug. 25.
Featured image provided by Atlético Ottawa/Freestyle Photography.
