On a cool evening at TD Place on May 1, fans were treated to a record-breaking performance by Atlético Ottawa, as they dropped a converted touchdown on Valour FC, beating the Winnipeg side 7-0.
The match was Ottawa’s preliminary round match in the 2024 Canadian Championship. For those unfamiliar, the Canadian Championship (“CanChamp”) is a domestic cup competition, separate from Ottawa’s usual Canadian Premier League matches. The CanChamp features teams from the Canadian Premier League (CPL), Major League Soccer (MLS) and third division League1 Canada. The winner earns a berth to the CONCACAF Champions League.
The seven goals were the most ever scored by a team in a single CanChamp match, the most goals ever scored by Atlético Ottawa in a single match and the seven-goal differential was also a CanChamp record.
Ollie Bassett opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a penalty kick goal, and would later score a second. Alberto Zapater and Ruben del Campo both also scored two goals each, and Ballou Tabla added the other.
“We played with good intensity,” said head coach Carlos Gonzalez following the match. “The result is a consequence of many good things we’ve done today, offensively and defensively.”
“I’m very pleased by the contribution of all the players… A lot of commitment, a lot of ambition. The natural thing in this type of game when you are winning 4-0 at half-time is to settle down, to not give your best. I’m very pleased with the ambition they showed every single action of the game.”
Ottawa now qualifies for the second round of the Canadian Championship. They’ll host Victoria, BC’s Pacific FC on May 8, who narrowly defeated semi-pro side TSS Rovers later the same Wednesday night.
Catch Atlético Ottawa’s Round 2 CanChamp matchup May 8 against Pacific FC. Single-game tickets for that match, and any 2024 regular season CPL match are available online or at the TD Place box office.
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