Score: HFX Wanderers 1-0 Valour FC
Goalscorers: Salter 44′
Game of the 2022 season: 75
CPL match: 325

Match in a minute or less

Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the HFX Wanderers came out with a statement victory on Saturday, downing a high-flying Valour FC side with a 1-0 victory at Wanderers Ground. 

Coming out of the gates flying right from the first minute, the Wanderers were able to grab a lead in the first half thanks to Sam Salter, who converted a penalty right before half time to put his team up by one. 

From there, the Wanderers did what they needed to do to see this game over the line, snapping a six-game winless run, while halting a two-game winning run from Valour, making this a huge victory for Halifax.

Three Observations

New-look Wanderers’ lineup gives attack much-needed life:

In the midst of a big offensive slump, it was always going to be interesting to see how the Wanderers would go about changing that, as they tried to desperately stop a tough run of losses. 

Having been shut out in four of their last six matches, scoring just three goals over that span, there was no doubt that something had to change, the only question being what. 

Turns out the answer is a new shape, as Halifax decided to switch to a back three in a promising performance despite a 1-0 loss to Forge last weekend, one where they did everything but finish their chances. 

Attempting to build off that, they decided to run that back, just slotting in some new personnel, with Lifumpa Mwandwe sitting underneath Sam Salter up front, flanked by Zachary Fernandez and Obeng Tabi at wing back. 

Through that, the Wanderers were really able to stretch Valour, doing a good job of opening up the field for themselves in transition. Despite holding way less of the ball than Valour, finishing with 42% possession, they were ruthless every time they were able to push the ball up the field, doing well to work into the sort of dangerous half spaces that you want to operate in. 

Because of that, they were able to storm out to a strong start, one that saw them grab a key lead before half time, as Valour seemed unable to cope with this new-look Halifax team. 

Plus, they did well to maintain that push into the second half, finishing the game with a whopping 2.42 Expected Goals (xG) to Valour’s 0.73, while outshooting their guests 15 to seven, showing how solid they were in this game. 

As a result, they finished as deserved winners, managing to capitalize on what they were able to create for themselves, making up for the games where they weren’t able to do that on this run.

“When we missed those chances at the beginning of the game, I said here we go again, they’re going to get one chance, and then we’re going to play from behind,” Wanderers manager, Stephen Hart, joked afterwards. “But I enjoyed the performance, the performance here was excellent, especially in the first half, and then we managed the second half well, but we have to take our chances.” 

Now, it’ll be intriguing to see if the Wanderers are able to maintain this going forward. At this stage of the season, the playoffs are going to be a long shot, no doubt, but they can certainly make things entertaining down the stretch if they’re able to keep playing like this on the regular.

On their day, there’s no doubt that they can defend very solidly, which is key, but there have always been questions about their offence, which has seen its fair share of talent over the years (including two golden boot winners), just lacking that overall mix. 

Finding a way to change that, however, would be huge, especially as the Wanderers look to build for 2023, giving them a potential blueprint to work with as they try and take a big step forward next season. 

“It’s not so much a change of system, but we’ve been much better on the ball, and that’s been huge,” Hart said of his team’s recent progress. 

Loss compounds bad day for Valour:

Meanwhile, for Valour, it was a surprisingly uncharacteristic day at the office for them in this game, as after putting together two key back-to-back wins over the last week, in which they really stamped out their identity in those games, they struggled to do that once again in this game.

As a result, they just weren’t able to keep up with what the Wanderers threw at them, leaving them to not just lose this game, but do so while not particularly threatening Halifax, despite what the score might suggest. 

At a key time in the playoff race, where they could’ve narrowed the gap between them and the top four to just three points, it’s a huge blow, as they now sit six points back, a gap that could widen to as many seven points depending on other results around them this weekend.

Yet, it was that kind of day for Valour. After having mustered up some of their best performances of the season in recent games, they just weren’t able to find the level required, leaving them to fall to defeat. 

Right from the first whistle, they were flat, unable to impose themselves on the matches, straying from the ‘Valour way’ that had given them a lot of success as of late. 

Be it from off the ball, where they allowed a lot of chances to the Wanderers, to on the ball, where they held a lot of possession but just didn’t break down Halifax, there wasn’t a lot that went Valour’s way, most of it being self-imposed.

“We never had control throughout the 90 minutes,” Valour’s manager, Phil Dos Santos, said of this game. “I can’t talk about a lack of commitment, the games just didn’t go our way, it started like that, and we never found it, but I can’t say it’s a lack of commitment.”

Now, that leaves Valour needing to get back on track, and quickly, as they have some massive games at home looming over the next few weeks. 

Of course, despite the gap widening in the playoff race, they’re still very much in the race, but the mountain is all that much bigger now, raising the stakes of those matches. 

Because of that, they’ll want to avoid any more performances like that, returning to what got them to where they are, instead of making this a habit.

“I do think too many guys weren’t good enough, too many guys were below their level, and then that’s what happens,” Dos Santos added.

“We came out flat today.”

Playoff push yields a surprisingly physical affair:

Heading into this match, there was no doubt of what was at stake for both teams, as this was a crucial six-point game in the spectre of the season. 

As a result, it was only reasonable to expect a decent level of intensity, as both sides came out to fight for what was at stake for both of them. 

Yet, despite that, they somehow found another level of intensity on top of that, coming out of the gates eager to lay everything on the line for a result. 

With a high number of duels, some hard challenges, and even a few melees along the way, it meant that cards, of both the yellow and red variety, ended up being the flavour of the day, with eight cards being shown across the 90 minutes. 

Much like in the game, the Wanderers came out on the right side of a lot of those challenges, winning 56% of the 103 duels that were contested, but overall there was no doubt that both teams were up for this one. And that’s key. 

As the playoff push continues, it could be very easy for a team like the Wanderers to be discouraged by their standing, leading them to turn their attention to 2023 and just use their last games to build. 

Instead, as this match showed, they’re going to battle right to the end, giving everything that they’ve got to do so. 

Much as we’ve seen around the league this season, where there has been an impressive uptick of intense and physical games, that’s reflective of the increase in quality that has been seen across the board. 

Because of that, it should pave the way for an exciting finish, one worth keeping an eye on, putting a bow on what has been a very solid season of action in the CPL. 

“That’s football,” Dos Santos said of the physicality. “When we play on a smaller pitch, with a lot of balls over the top to bypass the pressure, you’re going to have that, headers, second balls, duels.”

“It was a game that was chippy overall.”

“In the past, we might have a bit of a soft touch, but today we showed some character,” Hart added.

“And both teams did what they needed to do to get the win.”

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Mo Omar, HFX Wanderers

Slotted into the heart of midfield for Halifax, Omar covered a lot of ground in this game, finding a way to impose himself on both sides of the ball. From his play in possession, which saw him complete 32 of his 37 passes (86%), create one chance and rack up two dribbles, to his play off it, which saw him complete two tackles, two clearances, two interceptions and win eight out of 12 of his duels, it was a big performance from the first-year Wanderer, who could very well earn more appearances after this game.

What’s next?

The Wanderers are going to head out on the road next, as a trip to the Nation’s capital to take on Atlético Ottawa at TD Place on Wednesday, August 17th (7:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. AT). Meanwhile, Valour will head home, as they get set to host FC Edmonton at IG Field on Sunday, August 21 (12:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CT).

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