Final Score: Halifax Wanderers 2-2 Forge FC
Goalscorers: Ferrin 52′, 65′ (pen.); Badibanga 49′, Poku 90+2′
Game of the 2024 season: 38
CPL match: 522

Match in a minute or less

Kwasi Poku broke Halifax hearts on a rainy Saturday evening at the Wanderers Grounds with a stoppage-time equalizer that denied the Wanderers their first win of 2024.

After a cagey opening 45, the second half came alive. Béni Badibanga opened the scoring early in the 49th minute, but the Wanderers responded just three minutes later through Massimo Ferrin, who opened his 2024 account. Ferrin then added a second in the 65th minute from the penalty spot.

Forge, however, would not be denied a point with Poku tying the match in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. The Halifax Wanderers are now winless in their first nine matches to start the 2024 season, and have given up a stoppage-time equalizer in two of their last three games.

Three Observations

Stoppage time heartbreak for Halifax again as first win of the season continues to elude them.

It was the worst case of déjà-vu imaginable for the Halifax Wanderers, as a late stoppage time equalizer for Kwasi Poku means they are still winless through nine matches to start the 2024 season.

Despite fighting back from 1-0 down and leading 2-1 in the 92nd minute, the Wanderers were forced to settle for a fourth single-point performance of the season instead of an ever-elusive three.

“I mean it’s frustrating you know, we did all the work, they scored first and we had to come back and we came back and we did everything and then they just scored at the end,” said Halifax attacker Clément Bayiha. “So frustrating for us, so it’s kind of hard mentally. But we have to push, we have to keep going and it’s going to come, it’s going to come.”

As a new player to the group, however, Bayiha said it has been crucial for him to come in and inject positivity not only in his performances but his mentality as well.

Halifax head coach Patrice Gheisar acknowledged that a result and a performance like Saturday’s would feel a heck of a lot better if they already had a win under their belt this season. But unbeaten in three straight matches, they have to continue to take the positive of improved performances and trust the results will come.

“The positive today is that we went down 1-0, and we made it 2-1,” said Gheisar. “So, you know, it just depends on your mindset. Did we drop two points or did we take another step in the right direction and gain a point?”

It was the first time this season that Forge FC have dropped points from a winning position, so in that Halifax can certainly take some solace.

“Forge is a good team, so we have to take responsibility for being better at that very last moment,” said Gheisar. “But at the same time, Forge is a team that doesn’t take their foot off the pedal, and it’s a reason they have won this league four out of five years.”

Ampomah’s debut a positive for Forge, but early summer slump continues

When Forge opened the scoring in the 49th minute through Béni Badibanga, it looked as though they might cruise to what would have been an important victory at the Wanderers Grounds.

Up until that point, they had the better of the chances, with David Choinière hitting a post in the first half, and forcing a few good saves from Halifax’s Yann Fillion in the process.

Instead, the opposite happened as three minutes after they had opened the scoring, Forge allowed Halifax to play the ball into their box, and Massimo Ferrin had equalized. Ferrin then won a penalty in the 65th minute and turned the game on its head.

“[We’re] in control of the game, we score a goal, so you think everything is good, and before you know it, you’re down 2-1 in a game that didn’t look that way,” said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis.

Forge, however, didn’t accept defeat and despite multiple missed opportunities in the final ten minutes, they pressed on and found an equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time. That came through a lovely play from debutant Nana Ampomah, who was finally available for Forge after visa issues had kept him out since the start of the season. He took down a long ball and squared it for Kwasi Poku, who scored his first goal of the CPL season.

“We are champions, so champions cannot accept easy defeat,” said Forge’s Béni Badibanga after the match. “We cannot give up, so that’s what we did.”

Kwasi Poku ties it up late for @ForgeFCHamilton!

Is there enough time to find a winner? 👀#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/ovNMMH6IzS

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) June 15, 2024

In around a half-hour on the pitch, Ampomah had an assist, created a chance, could have easily scored himself and won four of five duels during an exciting glimpse of the impact player he could be for Forge.

“His time will be limited in these first few matches,” said Smyrniotis “[But] if we can get little glimpses like this in the first few weeks, we’ll be very happy until he rounds into proper form, and then I think he’s going to be a dangerous player in this league.”

The draw, however, means that Forge have just one win in their last six matches in the league. Much like last year, when they won just one of six matches in June, Forge appear to be mired in a bit of an early summer slump.

After looking so far ahead of the rest of the league while winning their first three matches of 2024, it is now on Forge to continue to raise their game in order to keep pace with the league’s other top teams.

Another Massimo Ferrin masterclass against Forge as Halifax attack shows signs of life

Some players just seem to come alive against certain opponents. For Halifax’s Massimo Ferrin, that is Forge FC, as the Wanderers’ attacker now has five goals in five matches against the Hamilton club in his career.

That included his first two goals of the 2024 season, which came on Saturday in a strong second half against Forge. Halifax will be hoping this will be just what is needed to ignite their 2023 leading goalscorer.

If there was an overriding positive for Halifax on Saturday it was that their attack looked as cohesive as it has all season.

In his first start for the club, Clément Bayiha has already injected a lot into the group on the right flank. He finished with an assist, two successful dribbles and won possession eight times. Add in some strong holdup play from Ryan Telfer, clever chance creation from Giorgio Probo and Ferrin’s heroics and it was a promising progression for the Wanderers.

“Telfer is getting more and more comfortable with the group,” said Gheisar. “You know, he came back from the Trinidad trip with a lot of confidence. Giorgio is getting more and more comfortable by the game. I thought he didn’t have the strongest start, but grew into the game as it went. And there’s certainly something about Massimo and Forge, so you know that adds to that. And Clem’s first start for the club, I thought was fantastic.”

In particular, Halifax did a good job of playing the ball along the ground into the box, finding gaps in the Forge backline, something they have struggled to do at times this season, which resulted in both of their goals. They were also far less wasteful than they have been in recent weeks, with four of their five shots attempted being on target. The chart below shows the number of balls into the box from their attacking unit, particularly from #27 Probo.

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Massimo Ferrin, Halifax Wanderers

It was another strong performance against Forge for Ferrin, who finally opened his 2024 account with a pair of goals. The Halifax attacker was threatening throughout the match, with three shots on target, seven touches in the box and four interceptions.

What’s next?

Halifax Wanderers head to Langley next to face Vancouver FC on Sunday, June 23 (8 p.m. AT/7 p.m. ET) looking for their first win on the road against VFC. Forge, meanwhile, are back home to face Valour on that same day, with their match kicking off at 4 p.m. ET.

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