February 17 – Nashville SC made it a difficult Champions Cup debut for Atletico Ottawa at Hamilton Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, securing a 2-0 lead for the second leg at home next Tuesday.
Atleti, who only debuted in the Canadian Premier League in 2025, were playing their ‘home’ leg in Hamilton due to renovations at TD Place, Ottawa City.
Atlético Ottawa started with just five players whos from the CPL Final. New signings Jonantan Villal and Garissone Innocent made their debuts up front and in goal, respectively. In keeping with their youthful profile, 18-year-old Ralph Khoury was handed his first start up front.
Nashville also had an experimental looking line-up, with six of their 11 having fewer than 10 games of MLS experience. They were backed up by Alex Muyl, Bryan Acosta and Jack Maher who all have more than 100 games.
Neither team had featured in a competitive match so far this season and the first half reflected that as both teams, with defences dominating, cagily played their way into their seasons, building from the back but lacking incisive early chances.
As the half wore on Nashville, started to speed up the pace of the ball, increased their pressure in the attacking half and started to crate chances. The best fell to Ahmed Qasem who hit a shot inside the box and centre of the goal over the bar. 0-0 at half time.
Nashville came out after the break with more intention, pushing Atleico back and creating more goal chances. After a series of missed chance Nashville had the lead in the 66th minute.
Canadian born Woobens Pacius (pictured), making his Nashville debut on loan from Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL and who plays his national team football for Haiti, broke through the Atleti defence to hammer a shot in.
This was Pacius’ 19th goal at this stadium having previously played for Forge FC in the CPL.
Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan turned to his bench and brought on his first choice attacking line-up Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge. Atleti boss Diego Mejía changed his front three breaking on newcomers Emiliano Garcia, Erling Myklebust and Kamron Habibullah for their debuts.
Ottawa almost equalised in the closing minutes as Habibullah’s shot the woodwork with the ball coming out after hitting his teammate Myklebust who, down on the goal line, inadvertently blocked the shot.
Nashville had the last with a blistering counter attack in added time that saw Mukhtar slice through midfield and find Cristian Espinoza at the edge of the box. Espinoza turned the ball square to Sam Surridge, who slotted into the open net.
The two sides will meet for the second leg next Tuesday at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The winner on aggregate will advance to the Round of 16.
Atletico Ottawa 0 Nashville SC 2