Down 1-0 at half-time, HFX Wanderers FC mounted a two-goal comeback to defeat Pacific FC 2-1 at a packed Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, with Akeem Garcia and Luis Alberto Perea finding the back of the net on either end of the hour mark to take all three points out of this tilt.

Pacific FC opened the scoring a few minutes before half-time, as Terran Campbell barged his way through the HFX backline before coolly slotting the ball past Christian Oxner’s near side. That lead ended a dominant first 45 for the visiting side, who enjoyed more of the possession and created more chances than the Wanderers.

But, Stephen Hart’s side would not be kept off the scoresheet, with Kodai Iida chipping a through pass onto a line-breaking Garcia, who himself chipped an onrushing Mark Village to level the match at the 51-minute mark.

Iida would once again play creator in the 67th minute, drawing a penalty after rushing into the box, which Perea placed into the bottom right corner.

Pacific’s attempts to restore level pegging seemed to pay off late in the match, as Michael Silberbauer’s side seemed to beat Oxner in the 93rd minute, but Oxner made a save on the line, just keeping the ball out by the narrowest of margins, to Pacific’s chagrin.

Still, it’s the Wanderers who celebrate three points after 90 minutes of action, and now turn their attention to Valour FC in Canadian Championship action (June 5 at Wanderers Grounds, 6:15 p.m. AT/5:15 p.m. ET, available on OneSoccer). Meanwhile, Pacific enjoys a two-week break to try and regroup before heading to York Lions Stadium to take on York9 FC (June 15, 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET, available on OneSoccer).

Box Score

Goals
42′ – Terran Campbell (Pacific FC)
51′ – Akeem Garcia (HFX Wanderers FC)
67′ – Luis Alberto Perea (HFX Wanderers FC, Penalty)

Discipline
66′ Yellow Card – Ryan McCurdy (Pacific FC)

Key Performers

Kodai Iida (HFX Wanderers FC)

Set up the first goal with an audacious chipped through pass and then drew the penalty with a darting run into the box. The Japanese midfield ace was an ever-present threat and helped his team claw back to earn not just a result, but a turnaround win, a commendable performance all-around.

Terran Campbell (Pacific FC)

A much more noteworthy performance by Campbell, who has been all but subdued in his limited appearances thus far for Pacific. Did well to use his physicality to give his team an opening goal, and was also involved in the high press that gave his team the edge in the first half.

Mohamed Kourouma (HFX Wanderers FC)

Eight crosses, four shots, and a team-leading 66 touches spells the story of the day for Mo Kourouma, who was, understandably, all over the place for HFX as he drove the attacking play. His constant threat on the left wing opened up space for Iida to run into, and his ability to test the goalkeeper regularly kept Pacific from stepping too high up their lines, too.