Pacius Leads Hamilton to Victory Over Atlético Ottawa in Concacaf Debut
The Concacaf Champions Cup debut for Atlético Ottawa ended in disappointment, as they lost 2-0 to Major League Soccer side Nashville SC at Hamilton Stadium. This match marked the initial ‘home’ leg of the first-round tie, played in Hamilton due to ongoing renovations at TD Place. Ottawa is set to face Nashville again in Tennessee next week, hoping to reverse the outcome.
Pacius Shines in Nashville’s Victory
One hundred days after clinching the North Star Cup, Atlético Ottawa fielded a line-up featuring only five players from their previous CPL Final. New signings Jonantan Villal and Garissone Innocent debuted in attack and goal, respectively. Eighteen-year-old Ralph Khoury also earned his first start as centre-forward.
Nashville SC, like Ottawa, was entering their first competitive match of 2026. Their squad featured a balanced mix of youth and experience, with six players having fewer than ten games’ worth of MLS experience. However, veterans like Alex Muyl and Bryan Acosta added stability to the team.
Opening Half Analysis
The first half unfolded cautiously. Both teams sought to establish a rhythm, favoring ball possession. However, attacks were tentative, leading to a tactical stalemate. Nashville appeared slightly more aggressive, managing to create a handful of chances as Ottawa struggled to assert their attacking style. At halftime, the score remained 0-0, though both coaches expressed dissatisfaction with their team’s execution.
Second Half Dynamics
After the break, Nashville’s control increased substantially. They pushed more players forward, creating scoring opportunities while Ottawa worked on counter-attacks. Despite attempting to regain momentum, Ottawa faltered in their offensive build-up, leading to several missed passes.
The breakthrough came in the 66th minute from Woobens Pacius. The former Forge FC striker sidestepped an Ottawa defender and struck the ball into the net, marking his first goal for Nashville and the 19th of his career at Hamilton Stadium. This goal put Nashville ahead 1-0.
Late Game Developments
Nashville’s tactical adjustments included substituting in high-profile players Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge in search of increased pressure. Ottawa coach Diego Mejía responded by introducing new offensive talent, including Emiliano Garcia and Erling Myklebust.
As the match neared its conclusion, Ottawa nearly leveled the score. Kamron Habibullah found himself in a prime scoring position, but his shot was inadvertently blocked by teammate Myklebust on the goal line. Shortly after, Nashville capitalized on a quick counterattack. Mukhtar initiated the play, assisting Cristian Espinoza, who found Surridge. Surridge slotted the ball into an empty net, finalizing the score at 2-0.
Looking Ahead
With this defeat, Atlético Ottawa will travel to Nashville for the second leg, aiming not only to secure their first goal in the Concacaf Champions Cup but also to potentially erase the two-goal deficit.
