Final Score: Halifax Wanderers 2-1 York United
Goalscorers: Ferrin 22′, Fernandez 67′; Nimick (o.g.) 76′
Game of the 2024 season: 83
CPL match: 567

Match in a minute or less

The Halifax Wanderers made it seven straight matches undefeated at the Wanderers Grounds with a huge 2-1 Labour Day Monday victory over York United.

Massimo Ferrin opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, before Zachary Fernandez added a critical second in the 67th minute. A Dan Nimick own goal in the 76th minute, and nine minutes of second-half stoppage time, combined for a nervous ending for the Wanderers, but they were able to hold on for a deserved victory.

With the three points, Halifax cut the gap between themselves and Vancouver FC in the fifth and final playoff position to just six points, with a game in hand on most of the league. They do, however, remain in eighth spot, while York United sit fourth after the loss.

Three Observations

Wanderers at their best during a potentially pivotal home victory

For the first time in Halifax Wanderers history, there were three points to celebrate for the home side at the Wanderers Grounds on Labour Day, following a tremendous performance on Monday.

The fact that the victory came against York United made it even sweeter. The Nine Stripes were the only team which Halifax were yet to defeat at the Wanderers Ground under Patrice Gheisar, and had already defeated the Wanderers twice this season.

“I’m really proud of the product that we put out there, I’m really proud of the way the boys played,” said Gheisar. “So this has to be our standard now for every game.”

Halifax took the game to York from the opening moments, and were rewarded when they opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Massimo Ferrin snuck into the box and scored a headed effort for his fourth of the season.

The goal undoubtedly ignited Ferrin, who was the main danger man for Halifax in attack throughout the match and likely should have had more than just the lone goal. He had four shots, three of which were on target, and attempted five dribbles during a dynamic performance.

On their home pitch, the Wanderers also did a brilliant job of controlling the tempo in the central part of the field. The defensive midfield pairing of Andre Rampersad and Lorenzo Callegari were tremendous, winning possession back 11 and ten times respectively while both completing 90.2 per cent of their passes.

In the end, the three points will only matter if the team can parlay them into a greater run over the final seven weeks of the 2024 CPL season. But for the Wanderers, it was a much-needed reminder of what they can be at their best.

“This is the make or break now for the many teams that are fighting for the playoffs, and obviously that includes us,” said Ferrin. “So it’s going to be a very important next couple of weeks.”

Having now found positive consistency at home, the Wanderers head out on the road next weekend, where they will look to replicate that success on the west coast at Starlight Stadium. The Wanderers are the only team in the league with just a single road victory this season, something that will have to change if they want any hope of getting back above the playoff line.

“There’s no doubt about what this group can do,” said Gheisar. “But can we do it week in, week out? Do we have the self-belief? We’ll find out real soon. I have the belief. I’ve said it before, that this is a playoff team, and I’ll support them and I’m there for them.”

The climb remains a steep one, but on Monday the Wanderers took a big step up the mountain that stands between them and a second consecutive postseason appearance.

Halifax’s dynamic fullbacks dominate furious first half

Starting matches on the front foot has been a significant issue for the Halifax Wanderers this season.

Just four times in 19 matches heading into Monday had Halifax been able to open the scoring. They had also scored the fewest first-half goals in the league in 2024, with just nine. That included both of their previous meetings against the Nine Stripes this season, where they went down 2-0 before scoring just one of their own.

But desperate for a result on Monday, the Wanderers brought an intensity from the opening whistle that resulted in a dominant opening half. Especially after opening the scoring in the 22nd minute, the hosts smelled blood and continuously looked to attack York in the same way they scored their goal — using their fullbacks to get forward and create overloads down the flanks.

In the 22nd minute, Halifax striker Ryan Telfer held up the ball well down the right, before playing a quick-one-two with fullback Riley Ferrazzo. The right back delivered an excellent cross into the box, allowing Ferrin to get wrong side of York’s Max Ferrari and head home his fourth of the season.

Both fullbacks, Ferrazzo and Fernandez were outstanding down the flanks on Monday, with Fernandez popping up at the back post on a 67th minute corner kick to score his first goal of the season, one which stood as the winner.

“I thought those two did more than their job,” said Gheisar. “I mean Riley was everywhere. Zach won most of his duels…I just love their energy, I just love to see them run and hunt and win the ball back and go forward and pass.”

Playing on his off side on the left, Fernandez put in an exceptional defensive shift. He won eleven of 15 duels and made three interceptions, making multiple critical plays in his own box to thwart York’s attacking moments.

Ferrazzo, meanwhile, was tireless up and down the right flank. He created three chances, including his assist on the opening goal, while winning eight of 13 duels.

Offensive struggles continue for York United, who suffer first dip of form under Benjamín Mora

For the first time this season, the highly consistent Nine Stripes have failed to win in three straight matches.

Facing a Halifax Wanderers side who absolutely looked like they wanted the three points more, York failed to match the intensity of their opponents in the first half, and were perhaps lucky to only be down by a single goal when the half-time whistle went.

“They came in better connected, better switched on to what the game required,” said York United head coach Benjamín Mora. “We were not at our best regarding the decision making, the spaces, the duels. They were better at counter pressing when they lost some balls, we weren’t clear and clean enough with the ball…so we paid our debt.”

Despite allowing Halifax to double the lead midway through the second half, York United did grow into the game late, and certainly caused a few nervous moments in the dying embers of the game. Instead, they were limited to just a goal (or less) for the fifth straight match as their attack continues to struggle.

The Nine Stripes were without leading scorer Brian Wright on Monday through a minor ankle injury. In his place, Austin Ricci led the line but looked a little disconnected with his teammates, failing to make the correct decision on a few key counterattacking opportunities.

Ricci did manage three shots, but none of them were on target and he touched the ball just 10 times in his 71 minutes on the pitch. But collectively the group was not good enough in the final third or in front of goal, with only six of their 12 shot attempts going unblocked — and three reaching the goal. Their first shot on target came in the 74th minute, with the other two not coming until second-half stoppage time.

“[Ricci] has not been playing so much, maybe [missing] some rhythm, tempo, game time, space and things that the players needs always to feel comfortable,” said Mora. “We know he’s a striker that can give us goals, but at the moment we’re not sharp enough. We’re not sharp enough, not only Ricci, I’m talking about Brian before the injury, and I’m talking about Marki and I’m talking about all our strikers. They need to sharpen their tools.”

The Nine Stripes did look far more dangerous after a pair of substitutions in the 70th minute which saw Shola Jimoh and Markiyan Voytsekovskyy introduced into the game. The 16-year-old Jimoh played the dangerous cross which resulted in Dan Nimick’s own goal, and had two shots and two completed dribbles.

York will now have a big opportunity to rebound when they travel to Langley for a match against Vancouver FC on Friday. They will desperately want to win there, and not want to get dragged further downwards in the CPL table. As it stands, they sit fourth place, six points behind top-of-the-table Forge FC. But a loss to Vancouver FC would close the gap between them and fifth place Eagles to just three points.

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Zachary Fernandez, Halifax Wanderers

Playing out of position as a left-back on Monday, Fernandez was immense on both sides of the ball. He scored the match-winning goal, and created another great chance going forward, while completing 30 of his 33 attempted passes. He also won 11 of 15 duels and made three interceptions.

What’s next?

York United travel across the country, where they will face Vancouver FC on Friday, September 6 (7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET). Halifax, meanwhile, are also on the West Coast next weekend where they take on Pacific FC on Saturday, September 7 (7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET).

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