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MATCH ANALYSIS: Halifax Wanderers continue home dominance with win over league leaders Pacific FC

Final Score: Halifax Wanderers 2-1 Pacific FC
Goalscorers: Ferrin 16′, Watson 49′; Didic 87′
Game of the 2023 season: 56
CPL match: 423


Match in a minute or less

The Halifax Wanderers have now won four straight matches at home, with Tuesday night perhaps being their most impressive yet as they handed league leaders Pacific FC their first road loss of the season by a score of 2-1.

For the second consecutive match at the Wanderers Grounds, Massimo Ferrin opened the scoring early in the first half, while Callum Watson added a second for Halifax early in the second half with a lovely curled effort. Pacific were then dealt a significant blow when key midfielder Sean Young was shown a second yellow card in the 56th minute and the visitors had to play the remainder of the match with 10 players.

The Tridents made it interesting late, however, with Amer Didić scoring his fourth goal of the season in the 87th minute. However, they would end up dropping back-to-back matches for the first time this season. Their lead at the top of the table remains at just three points over Forge, although they still have a game in hand.


Three Observations

Halifax demonstrate attacking depth in another strong offensive performance

Through the first eight matches of the 2023 Canadian Premier League season, goals were few and far between for the Halifax Wanderers. They scored just six in their opening eight matches, and a 2-2 draw with Cavalry was their only multi-goal performance.

After picking up their first win of the season on June 10, however, the confidence of the team in the final third has shifted significantly. Halifax has now scored multiple goals in five of their last six games, and 12 goals total over that stretch.

What has been critical to that turnaround is having a number of different players with multiple qualities on and off the ball who are goal dangerous. Pacific are the only other club in the league with six players on their roster who have scored multiple times in CPL action this season — with Ferrin and Watson both scoring their third goals of the season respectively on Thursday night, tying Aidan Daniels, Tiago Coimbra and Théo Collomb for the team lead.

Today, Halifax debuted a new-look attacking setup with Ferrin leading the line through the middle, Daniels and Mwandwe giving the side width and Tomas Giraldo playing as a second striker and providing energy and some good scoring chances in the first half. Against one of the league’s best defensive teams this season, they managed five shots on target, three big chances and 2.21 expected goals.

“It is so important and it is so helpful for a team to be able to rely on and be confident in so many guys,” said Ferrin. “For both teams, it was a very quick turnaround from our last match, and the travel can be difficult sometimes in this league and us having to go to Vancouver and then all the way back to Halifax you need guys who have some fresh legs, who maybe didn’t play as many heavy minutes to step up. Today was a perfect example of that, of so many guys playing such an important role in being able to be successful tonight and getting a win.”

One thing Halifax did particularly well was finding ways to get in behind a tired Pacific backline by drawing their central defenders to a ball carrier finding pockets of space through the middle. The second goal is a great example of this as Ferrin rides a few tackles before slipping in Watson in behind.

“I thought Aidan Daniels and Mass [Ferrin] dropping into those pockets, and Mass playing in a different position tonight, I thought really gave them different problems,” said Patrice Gheisar. “So they had to constantly defend the ball and the man. That’s something we weren’t doing maybe in the first five games, six games. But you have to fix the foundation before you add the different floors. We had to fix our possession football before we talk about penetration.”

The side’s offensive depth looks like it is about to get even stronger, as 2021 CPL Player of the Year João Morelli made his long-awaited return from a significant ACL injury in the 80th minute. Morelli looked lively in his cameo appearance, forcing a save from Baskett in the 85th minute.

In his first start of the season, Fumpa Mwandwe plays key role down left flank

Coming into Tuesday’s match, English attacker Fumpa Mwandwe had played just 41 minutes in four appearances off the bench for Halifax. Against the league leaders, he was finally given his first start of the season, and ultimately played an active and important role down the left flank for the Wanderers.

In attack, the 22-year-old provided Halifax an important wide threat who could dribble at the opposing backline, or make dangerous runs into the box from out wide. Mwandwe assisted on Ferrin’s opening goal with a clever reverse pass across the Pacific backline. He could have had a goal of his own in the 79th minute, but headed the ball just over the net. Overall, he had 0.99 expected goals on three shots and created a chance on top of his assist.

Mwandwe was just as important on the defensive side of the ball, however, as he played an important role in containing the wide threat of Pacific fullback Kunle Dada-Luke. Mwandwe contested 11 duels, made two interceptions and two tackles doing a good job to really slow down Pacific’s transition play down his flank.

“I thought Fumpa did a good job defending, I thought Fumpa did a good job going forward, he really did as much as you can against their right back,” said Gheisar.

“And you know what he almost got a goal, I feel like he cleared one off the line,” he added with a chuckle, “but almost got a goal off the cross. I’m really proud of him, he’s such a good young man and he’s been the perfect pro, never slacked off while he has not started.”

As Halifax begins the second half of the season, having a player with Mwandwe’s abilities and directness, whether that is in the starting lineup or off the bench, will be a real asset for the Wanderers. He has also shown flexibility in different roles this season, previously appearing on the right side and doing well at both wingback and on the right wing.

Another poor start costs Pacific FC as they suffer first away loss of 2023

Coming into Tuesday night’s match, the biggest focus for Pacific FC was on how they started this match. Having allowed the opening goal in their two previous matches, this was a key for the club looking to maintain their lead at the top of the CPL table.

It was rather frustrating for the visitors, then, when after being given two early warning shots as Giraldo got in behind in the second and then sixth minute of the match — they proceeded to allow Ferrin to do the same 16 minutes in and open the scoring.

“At the beginning of the season, we didn’t have a problem with this,” said Pacific FC midfielder Pierre Lamothe. “I think it is just mentality and we knew coming in today that the conditions were bad so we needed to try to adapt ourselves to the pitch in the first few minutes but it cost us for sure.”

Pacific hasn’t allowed the opening goal often, a big part of why they are still three points clear at the top of the standings, but when they haven’t it has been an issue. The Tridents have picked up just two points from losing position this season, tied with provincial rivals, and bottom-of-the-table, Vancouver FC for the fewest in the league.

“We need to get back and be humble and hungry and to start with urgency and our best football right from the start of games,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “That is the most important thing now, and that’s what we need to take into the York match.”


CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Massimo Ferrin, Halifax Wanderers

Having now scored early goals in back-to-back matches at home, Ferrin added an assist on the match-winner to cap off another fantastic performance. He also created three chances while leading the line for the Wanderers.


What’s next?

Pacific’s east coast road trip continues as they head to York Lions Stadium for the first time this season to take on York United on Friday, July 14 (7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT). Halifax, meanwhile, also have a quick turnaround as they travel to ATCO Field to take on Cavalry on Saturday, July 15 (5:00 p.m. AT/4:00 p.m. ET).

Watch all CPL matches live on OneSoccerIn addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.

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