Despite decent chances at both ends throughout the contest, neither side could solve the opposition keeper as HFX Wanderers FC and Pacific FC played to a goalless draw Tuesday evening at IG Field in Winnipeg.

Pa-Modou Kah made three changes to the team that won 3-0 over the weekend as Chris Lee came in at the back for Jordan Haynes, Sean Young replaced Ollie Bassett in midfield, and Josh Heard slotted in for Matteo Polisi. Halifax swapped just one starter from their winning XI from Saturday as Brazilian João Morelli opened on the bench after his brace against FC Edmonton, being replaced by Pierre Lamothe.

Pacific has made a knack of finding the back of the net in the early goings of games so far in 2021 — they were up 2-0 up inside of 40 minutes when these two teams met back on June 26. The Wanderers looked to have an emphasis on getting out of the opening moments unscathed on Tuesday as the Tridents enjoyed much of the ball in neutral positions in the first quarter of an hour before Halifax started to dictate the flow until halftime. The best chance of the opening 45′ fell to HFX attacker Stefan Karajovanovic who forced a great save out of Callum Irving at the near post in the 29th minute.

It was Karajovanovic who nearly broke the deadlock once again just after the break as his 53rd-minute strike beat Irving only to be kept out by the crossbar, the last look where Halifax really threatened to score in the contest.

Moments later it was Christian Oxner who became the busier of the two keepers as the Halifax shot-stopper denied Marco Bustos and substitute Bassett in quick succession on a pair of dangerous looks from distance. It was an undercooked back pass from Lamothe that Bassett nearly took advantage of shortly thereafter, only to be kept out on the breakaway by a brave, outrushing Oxner in the 67th minute.

As could be anticipated with both groups coming in with little time to rest, both coaches relied heavily on their substitutes to see out the closing 20-25 minutes. As a result of the changes, neither team could take a stranglehold in the final quarter of the match as each club earned a single point at the final whistle.

Halifax moves into a tie for sixth place with York United on five points in five games played while Pacific climb to 11 points, one back of Valour FC who also have a game in hand.

BOX SCORE

Goals

None

Discipline

17′ — Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)
58′ — Yellow: Alessandro Hojabrpour (Pacific FC)
85′ — Yellow: Matteo Polisi (Pacific FC)