2022 CPL Regular Season — Match #76
Pacific FC vs. Atlético Ottawa
August 13, 2022 at 2 p.m. PT
Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here

In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.

Another game with huge playoff implications closes out the Saturday afternoon slate in the Canadian Premier League this week, at Atlético Ottawa take their first trip of the season — and second ever — to Vancouver Island for a clash with Pacific FC.

The two sides enter this match in almost identical places in the standings — both teams have 32 points, with matching 9-5-4 records. The only thing separating them at the moment is Pacific’s slightly better goal differential of +3, which puts them in second place ahead of Ottawa with +1.

Pacific come to this match well-rested, with their last match being 11 days prior on Tuesday, August 2. Head coach James Merriman will certainly hope that the time off hasn’t taken away any of his side’s momentum, since that contest was their 6-0 Concacaf League victory over Jamaican side Waterhouse FC. Last time they played a CPL game, Pacific went to Winnipeg and beat Valour FC 2-1 thanks to a pair of Alejandro Díaz goals within two minutes in the second half.

The Tridents have now won their last five games in all competitions, dating back to July 9 when they beat FC Edmonton 3-2. In that stretch, they’ve scored 18 goals and conceded just five, as their attack seems to have found a rhythm.

That said, they’ll have to adapt quickly up front. Star striker Díaz — the CPL’s golden boot leader with 13 goals this year — has just completed a transfer to Sogndal in Norway, which means Pacific have to rely on their attacking depth to replace him. Plus, they’re further shorthanded by the departure of Matthew Baldisimo on loan to York United, with new addition Cédric Toussaint not yet available to play.

Ottawa, on the other hand, find themselves in an up-and-down stretch of their season. They won last weekend, defeating FC Edmonton 2-1 thanks to a brace from Ballou Tabla, but the week before that they fell 4-0 at home to Forge FC. That said, they’ve won their last three away games and haven’t conceded a goal in any of them, so coach Carlos González will be confident heading into his first trip to Vancouver Island.

“I think it’s motivating to play every single game at the moment,” González told reporters Friday. “We can see now, in 10 games the regular season will finish. We have the possibility to get into the playoffs, so I don’t think it makes a big difference the team you’re playing. It’s true that the other games with them were tight games, it’s true that we are tight in the standings, we have the same points. I’m sure that tomorrow is going to be a good game between two good teams with two identities, and I think that it will be very important to keep the focus during the 90 minutes so we can win the three points.”

Matches between these sides have been tight this year, both teams winning one of their two meetings in Ottawa in 2022. Pacific took the first one back on May 7 thanks to a late Díaz goal, but Atleti returned the favour on June 5 when Zach Verhoven scored an 86th-minute winner.

Whichever way it goes, this match has massive implications in the CPL standings, as two of the league’s best sides go toe-to-toe.

Make your match picks prior to kickoff at canpl.ca/predictor for a chance to win prizes, including the grand prize of a trip to the 2022 CPL Final! To learn more about ComeOn!, click here.

All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Pacific lean on depth after Díaz departure: As mentioned, the sale of Alejandro Díaz to Norway comes at a less-than-ideal time for Pacific, who continue to vie for the places at the top of the table now without their top centre-forward. The Mexican striker’s goalscoring ability is likely impossible to fully replace, but the Tridents have enough attacking ability in their group that they may be able to score by committee and remain one of the CPL’s best sides up front. James Merriman has some difficult choices to make with regard to who gets the minutes now in the middle of his attack, but a few different players will likely get an opportunity. Unfortunately for this match, Djenairo Daniels — whom Merriman has pointed to specifically as a possible Díaz replacement — is serving a one-match suspension, so Merriman might turn to Gianni Dos Santos, who has played most of his minutes on the wing this year. “There’s no direct replacement for Díaz and what he’s done for us this season on and off the pitch, in our locker room as well,” Merriman said. “But it gives time to players that have been asking for it. We believe in those players, we’re excited for those guys — Gianni Dos Santos is another one that’s really starting to come into form. We’re excited for those players to step up and get more time and see what they can do.”

• Ottawa look to feed Tabla in transition: Both of these teams are very comfortable playing with the ball, but Ottawa have shown this season that they also have no problem setting up a block or absorbing pressure. With Pacific at home for this game, it’d be fair to expect them to be the more expansive side with Ottawa ceding a bit of possession in favour of counter-attacking or transitional opportunities. Last week against Edmonton, Ottawa found they were able to attack very effectively by playing quick, direct balls to Ballou Tabla, who has the pace and technical ability to take on defenders and score goals. In a game like this, there may be more space available behind Pacific’s fullbacks if they try and get into the attack more frequently. So, Atleti might look to have the likes of Tabla or Carl Haworth cutting in from the flanks toward the box. Pacific are a very dangerous opponent in attack, but Ottawa will feel confident in their defensive ability — especially from midfield — and they’ll look for those opportunities to strike, as they did at Tim Hortons Field against Forge several weeks ago.
  

• Merriman calls for focus despite approaching Concacaf game: Saturday’s clash comes just three days before Pacific’s Concacaf League round of 16 match with Costa Rican side Herediano, which they’ll play on Tuesday night at Starlight Stadium. That will undoubtedly be one of the most important games in Pacific’s history, with a packed-out stadium expected under the lights. However, that does make this game against Ottawa somewhat of a tricky one to navigate, especially because it will by no means be an easy one. Over the past week and a half that his side has had off, Merriman has attempted to balance his team’s focus on the two matches, but as they approach Saturday, he’s calling for full concentration on this pivotal league clash. Don’t expect to see much squad rotation on Saturday either, as Merriman did mention that his players are fully prepared to play in both games. “We have to focus on this league game,” he said Friday. “It’s really important that we take it one match at a time. We know that [Concacaf] game is coming, but we’re focused on tomorrow. That’s the most important game for us right now, that’s where our mindset is.”

ALL-TIME SERIES

Pacific wins: 3 || Atlético Ottawa wins: 2 || Draws: 1

Previous match:

June 5, 2022 — Atlético Ottawa 2-1 Pacific

KEY QUOTES

“There’s a really good spirit in the team, a really good energy in the training environment. They’re hungry and excited for matches, they want to play again. We’ve had a bit of a break so we’re looking forward to the game.” — Pacific head coach James Merriman

“We had a big travel yesterday but now we are here, ready for the game. We’re in a good mood for the game. I think the team is in a good position, in a great moment of the season. We are looking forward to a good performance tomorrow and to try to fight for the three points.” — Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos González