ATLETICO GET LATE GOAL TO EARN DRAW
It took all night, but Ottawa feet finally solve the riddle of goalie Giantsopolous
It shows a lot of character that maybe we didn’t have in the first few games of the season, to be able to battle back
OTTAWA 1, YORK 1
It wasn't a victory, but the streak of late-game dramatics did continue for Atletico Ottawa Wednesday night at TD Place.
Alberto Soto finally solved the Giant — er, Giantsopolous — in the 88th minute, putting a left-footed shot behind York United goalkeeper Niko Giantsopolous, allowing Atletico to pull out a draw.
Up to that point, it was all about a questionable tackle in front of the Atletico goal and Giantsopolous's play at the other end.
Atletico came into the game fresh from its 2-1 home-opening win over Halifax on Saturday, but it was on the verge of a defeat before Soto's late-game strike, which leaves Atletico with a record of three wins, seven losses and two draws.
Alvaro Rivero scored the only other goal on a penalty kick in the 64th minute, after Milovan Kapor was charged with a tackle inside the box. As Atletico goalkeeper Dylon Powley dove to his right, Rivero punched the ball into the middle of the net.
It was a tough break for Atletico, playing with assistant coach Ajay Khabra substituting for suspended manager Mista.
“I'm not going to say it feels like a victory, but I think we deserved a victory,” said Powley. “I do think it's a good result, given the circumstances we were put in the second half. It shows a lot of character that maybe we didn't have in the first few games of the season, to be able to battle back from something like that. We can take it, maybe, as a small moral victory, but at the end of the day, with how everyone played, we'll be a little disappointed.”
Ottawa dictated play for large portions of the contest, but couldn't find the key to solving Giantsopolous.
Following an outstanding first half, the York goalkeeper kept the game scoreless with a fully extended, diving stop off Rafael Nunez in the 57th minute.
Seven minutes later, York received the break it needed leading to the Rivero goal.
Atletico didn't go quietly into the night. Before Soto's goal, they pressed hard for the equalizer in the final minutes and had some choice words for referee Fabrizio Stasolla along the way.
It was the first meeting between the clubs since they played to a 2-2 draw at the Island Games in P.E.I. 367 days earlier and the York squad has changed drastically in the past year.
The back-and-forth first half was as entertaining as any 0-0 score could be, with the goalkeepers taking centre stage.
A mere five minutes in, Giantsopolous made his first of several giant saves, diving to his left to stop Atletico's Alberto Soto, in prime scoring position following a flashy setup by Raul Uche.
Atletico's Powley responded in kind, making a solid stop off Diyaeddine Abzi off a free kick from 20 yards out.
In the 23rd minute, with Atletico showing some confusion around its net, York's Nicholas Hamilton was left shaking his head following two more brilliant saves by Powley.
Atletico cleaned up its act defensively for the remainder of the first half, dictating the play for the most part.
Ben McKendry, a presence on both sides of the ball, was stymied by Giantsopolous on a hard strike from 22 yards out.
It was an energetic effort all around, but not everyone was happy. When Khabra opted to substitute Viti Martinez for Uche in the 28th minute, Uche raised his arms in shock. After making his way to the sidelines, he engaged in a spirited conversation, looking for explanations at why he had been lifted.
Atletico had several close calls before the first half closed. Shaw's brilliant header was stopped by an even more brilliant save by Giantsopolous in the 33rd minute.
“Niko's a good friend and for him to be making saves like that, it's not uncommon,” Powley said. “He's one of the most athletic keepers in the league, probably. It's definitely not surprising that he's making saves like that.”
It was a physical contest, with referee Stasolla generally content with letting anything but the most blatant contact slide without whistling the play dead. That led one group of passionate Atletico supporters to break into the ever-popular “the referee is a wanker” chant.
Wednesday marked the midpoint of a busy week for Atletico. In addition to Saturday's home opener against Halifax, Atletico will be back in action at TD Place again on Saturday against the Winnipeg-based Valour FC.
York, which now has four wins, four draws and four losses, entered Wednesday's game having been idle since defeating Halifax on Aug. 7.