Atlético Ottawa secured its spot in the 2024 Canadian Premier League playoffs after missing out the year before.

This Sunday, the team from the nation's capital drew at home 1-1 against Pacific, meaning they're now 5 points behind league leaders Forge FC in the race for their 2nd CPL Shield.

The game started off with some early exciting action, as Ballou Tabla hit the post just 3 minutes in after receiving a great headed pass from Matteo De Brienne. The 25-year-old forward has struggled to find the back of the net since signing with Ottléti earlier this year, scoring 3 goals in 26 matches across all competitions.

The home outfit kept possession throughout the first half an hour, and in the 28th minute, it paid off, as Aboubacar Sissoko received a great ball from Tabla inside the box, making no mistake against Emil Gazdov and putting Ottawa ahead 1-0.


Photo credit: Matt Zambonin/Freestyle Photography

At the start of the 2nd half, Rubén del Campo started a counter attack for the home side, eventually finding Ballou Tabla wide open right outside the box, who should've put the 2-0, but his shot went high over the goal.

Just 6 minutes later, Dario Zanatta found Moses Dyer inside the box with an inch perfect cross, who headed the ball past Nathan Ingham, levelling things up at TD Place.

Atlético Ottawa were desperate for a winner and kept attacking left and right, but to no success.

Ollie Bassett received the ball fairly open on the left side of the box, but he couldn't decide whether to shoot or to cross, sending the ball high and wide.

30 seconds after the additional time was up, Manny Aparicio tried his best from almost 40 yards, but he skied it.

While the tie did qualify the hosts to the playoffs, it wasn't the result they wanted, as the 1-1 draw meant Forge would end the weekend 5 points clear of them with 4 weeks to go.

Meanwhile, the 3 bottom-placed teams (Vancouver, Halifax & Valour) will be happy to see Pacific dropping points, as the gap between the 5th-placed team and last-placed team is just 4 points.

The #CanPL standings with 4 weeks to go ??

→ Forge & Ottawa have clinched a spot in the playoffs
→ 4 points separate 5th and 8th pic.twitter.com/u75AZWGg0g

— TrueNorthFoot ?????? (@truenorthfoot) September 22, 2024