April 29, 2023...Match Analysis: Babouli free-kick magin propels York United to first win of the season against Ottawa (from canpl.ca)
MATCH ANALYSIS: Babouli free-kick magic propels York United to first win of the season against Ottawa
2023-04-29
by MITCHELL TIERNEY, DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER (@MITCHELLTIERNEY)
MATCH ANALYSIS
Final Score: Atlético Ottawa 0-1 York United
Goalscorers: Babouli 42'
Game of the 2023 season: 10
CPL match: 377
Match in a minute or less
York United is off the mark in 2023 after a gritty performance in Ottawa, where they earned three points, and a clean
sheet, against Atlético Ottawa in a 1-0 victory.
The visitors were the protagonists in the opening half and got their reward just before the break, as a stunning free
kick from Mo Babouli found the back of the net for the game’s lone goal. Ottawa looked to make it a fourth straight
match in all competitions in which they had come back to earn a result after allowing the first goal, but were unable
to beat Niko Giantsopoulos who made an excellent five saves to earn his first clean sheet of the season.
The 2022 regular season champion Atlético Ottawa is still searching for their first win of the 2023 season. They sit
bottom of the CPL table after three match weeks, despite this being just their first loss of the year in all competitions.
Three Observations
Babouli moment of magic the reward for persistent and patient first half from York United
For most of this season for York United, it has been too little too late as their best work has often come after they
are already down by multiple goals.
That aspect of their game was much improved against Atlético Ottawa on Saturday evening as the Nine Stripes held
58.2 per cent of the ball during the opening 45 minutes and made 199 passes in the Atleti half of the pitch.
York found good attacking balance down the flanks, with 14 cross attempts in the first half alone, as Paris Gee
and Max Ferrari combined well on the right, while Lassana Faye had his best match in a York shirt to date — moving
the ball well down the left and showing his pedigree. In the middle of the park, they did well to simply maintain
possession and not allow Ottawa many opportunities to go the other way — Oussama Allou led the way in this
completing 96.8 per cent of his passing, including 14 of 15 in the final third.
When they lost the ball, York was quick to swarm Ottawa’s attacking outlets, winning the ball back quickly. That
included some very dangerous areas — as they won the ball back six times in the final third during the opening 45 minutes.
Statistically, it didn’t result in much offensively, as they only managed 0.14 expected goals and four touches
in the Ottawa box during the first half. But sometimes, getting into good positions enough times will result
in good things, and for York that’s exactly what happened when they won a free kick just outside the box late in the half.
“We were getting into some good areas, and we were putting pressure on them,” York United manager Martin Nash told
media after the match. “Brian [Wright] did a good job all game in terms of holding the ball up. He was able to hold
it and got fouled at the edge of the box. Mo’s quality, we have seen in training he puts those in all the time. He hits
quite a consistent rate, it was a fantastic free kick. Not much keepers can do about it when it is ripped that hard
into the top corner.”
Last weekend, Babouli was part of a very different highlight reel as a poor touch just outside his own box led
to Vancouver FC’s first-ever goal. Despite being among the league leaders in chance creation again so far this year,
he hadn’t quite looked like his dominant self until that free kick nestled into the top corner.
“I knew I had to come back and fight even harder this week to make up for it,” said Babouli of his mistake from last
week. “But the theme that we are trying to have is if we are going to make mistakes we have got to help each other dig
out of those mistakes and get results and find a way to find positivity in what we do. Today was one of those days.”
The Nine Stripes have won every match in which Babouli has scored since joining the club last August.
“It means I’ve got to score more,” said Babouli with a smile.
York ‘suffers’ during second half — but is able to hold on for crucial result
Having already come back from losing positions three times in 2022, Atlético Ottawa looked a side full of confidence
that they could do so again on Saturday evening.
They spent the final thirty minutes of the match bombarding the York penalty area, forcing some good stops out
of Giantsopoulos. York undoubtedly bent during that final stretch, but were the first team this season to hold off Atleti.
For all of Ottawa’s territorial advantage in the second half, they managed just 0.56 expected goals, nine touches
and three shot attempts inside the York box. The Nine Stripes did a particularly good job of limiting what Ottawa was
able to create through the middle, forcing them out wide where they could isolate the Atleti wingers.
“We did frustrate them enough I think,” said Nash. “They put some dangerous balls in I think Niko had to make one really
good save at the back post. Other than that, the shots from range you hope he can make those saves, and he did. It was
just a dogged performance in the last 30 minutes. The guys earned the three points tonight.”
The chart below shows defensive actions from York in the second half, and just how much of a stand they made in their
own area to close out a crucial result.
After playing one of the CPL finalists, York has another difficult defensive task ahead as they host Forge next week.
This performance will give them some much-needed confidence, however.
The inability to hold onto the ball invites unnecessary pressure during a disappointing first half for Ottawa
Make that seven straight matches without a win for Atlético Ottawa at TD Place stadium. Despite an impressive crowd
considering the inclement conditions in the nation’s capital on Saturday evening, Atleti came out flat in the
opening 45 minutes and were not able to recover.
Defensively, the performance very much matched the successful blueprint they have perfected, as they limited York
to just 0.14 expected goals in the first half. But when it works that defensive solidity is coupled with a lethal
counterattack, and that went almost entirely missing in the opening half.
“Mainly, I felt in the first half that we were not very good in the recovery moments,” said González. “We weren’t
capable to take the ball out of pressure. That’s the main point, once you recover the ball if you are not able
to keep it for a time, at the end of the day you are going to start to drop, to drop, to drop, and you are going
to play very near your box.”
Despite the fact that his side is still without a victory after their first three regular season matches, González
is still pleased with how Ottawa is progressing in many areas of their game this season. He cautions that it is still
early, and drawing too many conclusions from three matches is premature.
“Last season maybe there were games in which we punished the other teams, now they are punishing us,” said González.
“So we have to look forward grab the good things that the team is doing, there are many, and move on. We learn from
what we are doing that can be improved and continue. This is only the third round.”
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Mo Babouli, York United
When Babouli is at his best, he is a match-winner. He was that again on Saturday evening, taking one of the very
limited opportunities on offer from Atlético Ottawa and making it count. Aside from his goal, he had 15 pass attempts
in the final third, and three cross attempts as his creativity was key to York to consistently get the ball into good
areas against Ottawa.
What’s next?
York United gets set to host Forge in the first 905 derby of the 2023 season on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Atlético Ottawa, meanwhile, stays at TD Place Stadium, where they host Pacific FC for the first time since the two
sides met in last year’s semi-finals on Saturday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
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