Final Score: Vancouver FC 1-4 Atlético Ottawa
Goalscorers: Campbell 66′; Rodríguez 20′, Dos Santos 37′, Tabla 42′, Patterson 83′
Game of the 2025 season: 7
CPL match: 603

Match in a minute or less

A dominant Atlético Ottawa gave a masterclass in their new attacking identity during a 4-1 victory over Vancouver FC in Langley on Sunday night.

For the second consecutive week, David Rodríguez scored the opening goal for Atleti, before setting up Kevin Dos Santos in the 37th minute. Ballou Tabla made it three for Ottawa before half-time, while Monty Patterson scored his first CPL goal off the bench in the second half.

Terran Campbell replied for Vancouver FC with his all-time CPL leading 40th goal, and first for the Eagles, but it was a consolation in a second consecutive home loss to begin the season.

Three Observations

Atlético Ottawa’s attacking identity continues on the road 

Prior to Sunday’s match, Atlético Ottawa manager Diego Mejía was clear: his side would look to play front-footed attacking football regardless of whether they were at home or on the road.

It is a significant departure from the, albeit incredibly successful, defence-first approach away from home under previous head coach Carlos González.

Having averaged a league-low 42.88 possession on the road over the past three campaigns, they held 62 per cent of the ball in their first road match of 2025.

As the scoreline indicates, they did plenty with it as well. Atleti fired 11 shots on target, and had 29 touches in the Vancouver box. The 3.89 expected goals they managed on the night surpassed last week’s 3.50 expected goal total against Halifax as the highest single-game total in a CPL match in club history. Two games into Diego Mejía’s tenure, that’s quite the statement.

That attacking impetus was clear from the start in the way Atlético Ottawa set up. Their back three of Amer Didić, Noah Abatneh and 16-year-old professional debutant Sergei Kozlovskiy centred a pair of wingbacks, Kevin Dos Santos and Gabriel Antinoro, who played much more like the ‘wing’ part of the position.

Aggressive and given a full license to go forward, the average positions on the pitch shown in the graphic below for Antinoro (11), and Dos Santos (19) shows just how front-footed Atleti were despite being the road side on Sunday.

In the middle, Manny Aparicio and Juan Castro set the tempo, allowing a front three of David Rodríguez, Ballou Tabla and Samuel Salter all the space and service they needed to orchestrate the team’s attack.

Rodríguez took full advantage of that space on the opening goal, an outstanding solo effort that only further solidifies him as one of the most dynamic and dangerous attackers to begin the 2025 season. Just seventeen minutes later, he turned provider in order to again dribble through multiple Vancouver players and slot the ball out wide to Dos Santos. The 22-year-old attacker, on loan from Atlético San Luis, now has two goals and an assist through two CPL matches.

GOAL 🦖

David Rodriguez continues his great form with @atletiOttawa, breaking the deadlock with a beautiful finish in Langley ⚽️#CanPL | 🔴 Watch LIVE on @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/qKIKqsGs0d

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) April 13, 2025

Atlético Ottawa’s midfield double pivot of Manny Aparicio, Juan Castro dictate the match 

Much of Atlético Ottawa’s ability to control Sunday’s contest was engineered in the centre of the park by an outstanding Atlético Ottawa double pivot of Manny Aparicio and CPL debutant Juan Castro.

Aparicio and Castro often operated close together, in the middle, allowing them to use one another as an outlet in an attempt to quickly break the lines to find their attackers in pockets of space, or switch play to the wings to Antinoro or Dos Santos.

Not only did Aparico and Castro keep the tempo ticking for Atlético Ottawa on Sunday, they did an excellent job of keeping the ball moving forward, as well, which was crucial to the team’s relentless attack.

In his Canadian Premier League debut, the 33-year-old Castro demonstrated the quality and technical brilliance which allowed him to become Atlético San Luis’ all-time appearance leader, with nearly 300 appearances in the Mexican top divisions.

In 64 minutes of action, Castro completed 40 of 48 passes, 12 of which were in the final third, and earned his first CPL assist on a lovely slipped ball through midfield which allowed Rodríguez the space to run at the Vancouver backline.

Meanwhile, Aparicio was his typical tireless self for 90 minutes, winning possession ten times, and completing 57 of his 68 attempted passes.

Aparicio is likely to only get better playing alongside a player like Castro, and getting to learn and train with him, which is a scary proposition for a player who is already among the league’s best.

Vancouver FC’s disconnected defending results in another disappointing night 

Vancouver FC’s difficult start to the 2025 season continued on Sunday, as despite some good attacking moments and creativity, their collective defending once again let them down.

Looking to play a direct and dynamic game, very much in the vein of what their opponents executed on Sunday, Vancouver’s lines instead became disconnected throughout the match, and Atlético Ottawa took full advantage.

Far too often, Ottawa players were allowed pockets of space in which to run and create, an invitation David Rodríguez in particular was all too keen to take. Vancouver then struggled to close down those players, giving them far too much space and time to make ultimately costly decisions for the Eagles.

Really, it could have been a lot worse once again for Vancouver if it wasn’t for the spectacular Callum Irving, who made seven saves. He has stopped 15 through two matches, five more than any other keeper in the CPL.

But even he wasn’t spared on blemishes, as on an attempt to cut out a long ball in the 42nd minute, he sliced his clearance and the ball dropped right into the path of Ballou Tabla with an open goal.

There were a few positives for Vancouver on Sunday, however. One was getting Terran Campbell on the scoresheet, his first since August of 2023, giving confidence to a crucial attacker for the Eagles.

The other was the man who set him up, as Elage Bah gave Vancouver a tireless performance down the left flank. Aside from the assist, he completed six of eight attempted dribbles, and won 11 of 17 duels contested, as well as four fouls.

What They Said

“I am very happy. I am very happy because we are working on a way to play. Whenever I am here, I talk about the identity with the players, that for me, the way is really important. So I think we built a good team with a lot of identity. ” — Atlético Ottawa head coach Diego Mejía 

“We can go through all three goals that were terrible mistakes, and even the fourth goal, that was a terrible mistake. We had a lifeline when we were down 1-3 and we take a goal. It’s going to take me a few days to recover from this, but I have to show a very positive face and move on. And I feel as Nico [Mezquida] gets fit and as the other [internationals] come into our team, we can create the right blend that makes not only playing young players, but also competitive results. But very disappointing for all of us at the club.” — Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi 

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

David Rodríguez, Atlético Ottawa

For a second consecutive week, the Atleti attacker stole the show. He added a goal and an assist to his season tally, while also attempting six dribbles, making three tackles and creating three chances.

What’s next?

Vancouver head on the road for the first time this season as they head to Calgary to take on CPL champs Cavalry FC on Friday, April 18 (4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT). Atlético Ottawa, meanwhile, head back home to host Ontario rivals York United at TD Place on Saturday, April 19 (1 p.m. ET).

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