Atlético Ottawa in 'Superman' form heading into big weekend clash

Atlético Ottawa is currently the team to beat in Canadian soccer, sitting atop the nation's premier league (CPL) table with only one loss in 14 games.

The Ottawa side is also riding a seven-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

Atlético's most recent win came in thrilling fashion on Tuesday when Samuel Salter, the club's leading striker, salvaged an underwhelming team performance with a breathtaking goal in the dying minutes of the match.

His bullet-like volley fired York United out of the Canadian Championship and sealed what will be Atlético's first appearance in the domestic cup semi-finals when they take on Vancouver FC in August.

Goalkeeping coach Romuald Peiser, who previously played for the Ottawea Fury before that club folded, describes this week's victory as a "milestone."

The club's true test of character and craftsmanship is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. in a Justice League-like showdown comparable to Superman vs. Batman when Atlético takes on rivals Forge FC of Hamilton.

The Superman-themed match at TD Place will see Atlético unveil special edition jerseys inspired by the DC character during warm-up. A limited but unspecified number will be sold to the public, according to a news release.

Meanwhile, a four-time league champion is nipping at Atlético's heels: Forge is undefeated this season but trails Atlético by a single point. The Hamilton side is also coming off a big win in the Canadian Championship quarterfinal, defeating CF Montreal earlier this week.

Unlike Forge and Atlético, Montreal plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) competition. That league holds a talent pool of professionals with playing experience in the world's top leagues, including legendary Argentine Lionel Messi who now wears the pink and black kit for Inter Miami.

Peiser said Saturday's match is an opportunity for the young Ottawa team to grow.

The average age of Atlético's roster is 25 years and 102 days, according to the available ages listed on the team's website. That includes 40-year-old Alberto Zapater, without whom the average age drops to 24 years and 241 days.

Peiser says the best way to develop those young player is through playing time and technical development.

"We want to develop young Canadian players. How do you do that? It's with the ball," Peiser said.

Past matches between the Ontario teams have led to a growing rivalry. Forge previously defeated Atlético 2-0 in front of 15,000 people at TD Place to lift the North Star Shield in 2023.

Forge has bested Atlético more than a dozen times since the Ottawa team's inauguration, far more than the handful of wins the Ottawa side has enjoyed over its provincial rivals.

Atlético's playing style has changed this season under new management. A team previously focused on maintaining a compact, defensive shape now demands possession of the ball in an attack-focused model.

"We want the ball, but we want the ball with purpose," Peiser said. "[The players] want to win, they want to get better. They enjoy the system, they enjoy the game model. It's very demanding, but they enjoy it so much."

Peiser added that it's a team goal to transmit that enjoyment to the fans and give them a "show"

"Anyone who came into TD [Place] this year had a lot of fun at the game," Peiser said. "We want a lot of people in the stands having fun with us, [to] really create that union."