Penalty kick sinks Atlético in CPL bubble
Valour FC added to its first-place record in the Canadian Premier League with a 1-0 win over Atlético Ottawa in the Winnipeg bubble on Thursday.
A Moses Dyer penalty kick in the 85th minute was the difference, as the host team improved to 5-0-1 in front of a few hundred fully vaccinated fans at IG Field, the 33,000-seat home of the CFL's Blue Bombers.
Ottawa falls to 2-0-4, in sixth place.
It was Dyer's third goal of the season, giving him at least a temporary share of the league scoring lead.
The back-and-forth affair saw Valour fire 14 shots at the Ottawa goal in the first half, four of them requiring Ottawa goalkeeper Dylon Powley to make the save.
Ottawa controlled more of the play in the second half, but was victimized by a handball in the box, giving Dyer the chance from 12 yards out.
From the same spot he'd scored his first two goals, the New Zealander made no mistake, using a stutter-step to confuse Powley, who went to his right as the ball went the other way.
Dyer is tied with Pacific's Marco Bustos as the CPL scoring leader.
Valour led in shot attempts, 1811, and shots on target, 6-3.
All five of Valour's wins have been shutouts, as they've outscored opponents 9-2.
Ottawa has scored just four goals, against eight by the opposition.
Both teams play again on Sunday: Valour against York, Ottawa taking on FC Edmonton.
The league is expected to stay in the Winnipeg bubble through July 24, when teams will return to their respective cities, local health regulations permitting.