Canadian Premier League — Match #17
HFX Wanderers FC vs. York9 FC
May 29, 2019 — Wanderers Grounds (6:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. AT)
Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

Both HFX Wanderers and York9 FC will look to right the ship this Wednesday, as two teams on losing skids face off in Halifax.

After winning their home opener 2-1 over Forge FC, the Wanderers failed to score in two straight road losses, dropping a decisive 2-0 contest to Cavalry FC over the weekend. Now 1-3-0 on the season, HFX find themselves in sixth in the CPL’s Spring season (but only three points back of Valour FC in third).

York9 (0-2-2) are in a similar spot to their Maritime opponents. Jimmy Brennan’s team couldn’t finish any of their chances on Saturday against Forge as they lost their home opener 2-0. The Nine Stripes are still in search of their first league win, after topping A.S. Blainville in the Canadian Championship last Wednesday. They’re back on the road, already playing their fourth away fixture of the season.

After this midweek clash, the focus for both teams shifts back to the Canadian Championship. Both teams play at home on Wednesday, June 5, with HFX Wanderers hosting Valour (7:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. AT/OneSoccer) and York9 taking on FC Edmonton (7:00 p.m. ET/OneSoccer).

KEYS TO THE MATCH

• Finish your chances: Although both York9 and HFX Wanderers were held scoreless over the weekend, it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. York9 fired 20 shots toward Forge, which gave Jimmy Brennan hope that they’ll start going in soon. HFX, too, made the opposing keeper busy on Saturday (often thanks to Thomasz Skublak’s excellent work in the box). Both teams have shown they can get into dangerous positions, so Wednesday’s game could come down to who can finish from those spots.
• Wide play: No longer restricted to the close confines of York Lions Stadium, York9 will have more space to work with on the flanks. They’ve already shown an ability to stretch the game laterally, with the likes of Kyle Porter and Rodrigo Gattas patrolling the touchlines. HFX may have an answer, though, in the form of Zachary Sukunda (if healthy; he left Saturday’s game in the first half with injury). The Wanderers definitely need to restrict York9’s movement out wide (without giving Manny Aparicio or Ryan Telfer too much space centrally).
• Home sweet home: HFX Wanderers have played at home twice now: once in early May, when they beat Forge 2-1, and again last Wednesday, when they came out flat in a 1-0 Canadian Championship loss to Vaughan Azzurri. Coach Stephen Hart bemoaned his side’s stunted play against Vaughan, so he’ll definitely be expecting a more comprehensive home effort.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

HFX Wanderers FC: Christian Oxner; Ndzemdzela Langwa, Chrisnovic N’Sa, Peter Schaale, Andre Bona; Mohamed Kourouma, Matthew Arnone, Elton John, Zachary Sukunda; Juan Diego Gutierrez, Thomasz Skublak

York9 FC: Nathan Ingham; Luca Gasparotto, Daniel Gogarty, Justin Springer; Diyaedinne Abzi, Ryan Telfer, Manny Aparicio, Wataru Murofushi, Kyle Porter; Rodrigo Gattas, Simon Adjei Karlsson

HEAD TO HEAD

First meeting between these clubs.

STATS LEADERS

Luis Alberto Perea & Akeem Garcia – 1 goal (HFX Wanderers)
Ryan Telfer, Simon Adjei Karlsson & Rodrigo Gattas – 1 goal (York9)

INJURIES

Roger Thompson (York9 FC) – Doubtful
Joseph Di Chiara (York9 FC) – Doubtful
Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers) – Questionable
Luis Alberto Perea (HFX Wanderers) – Questionable
Chakib Hocine (HFX Wanderers) – Questionable
Zachary Sukunda (HFX Wanderers) – Questionable

INTERNATIONAL DUTY

None

SUSPENSIONS

None

ACCUMULATION

None

REFEREES

Referee: Fabrizio Stasolla
ARs: Philippe Bettez-Quessy & Chad Lefebvre
4th Official: Ben Hoskins