HFX Wanderers continued their impressive run against Valour FC in the month of June on Wednesday, taking a 2-0 result at home in front of a sold-out crowd at Wanderers Grounds and handing their opposition a fifth straight loss across all competitions.

Wednesday’s victory means the Wanderers have three wins over Valour in the month, dating back to their two-legged affair in the Canadian Championship.

Valour nearly took the lead in the fifth minute but a one-handed, point-blank striding stop by Christian Oxner kept proceedings even.

HFX would get their first-clear cut chance in the 42nd minute when a penalty was called after Akeem Garcia was taken down by Martin Arguinarena in the area. Mohamed Kourouma converted from the spot, giving the home side an advantage. Another impressive save from Oxner ended the half, ensuring HFX’s lead extended into the interval.

Rob Gale switched things up in the second half, changing shape and bringing on attackers Stephen Hoyle and Dylan Sacramento. Despite this, the visitors failed to penetrate, leading to their third loss in a row in league play, fifth overall.

Garcia sealed the win for the Wanderers in the 85th minute, breaking the line and pushing home his third of the season past a sliding Jordan Murrell.

Both clubs will return to the pitch on Canada Day for the CPL’s Spring finale. Valour will be back home at IG Field to take on York9 (6:00 p.m. ET, 5:00 p.m. CT, on OneSoccer), while HFX heads out to Alberta to play FC Edmonton (6:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. MT, on OneSoccer).

Box Score

Goals

44′ – Mohammed Kourouma (HFX Wanderers FC)
85′ – Akeem Garcia (HFX Wanderers FC)

Disciplinary

65′ – Yellow Card – Thomasz Skublak (HFX Wanderers FC)
65′ – Yellow Card – Raphael Ohin (Valour FC)
84′ – Yellow Card – Peter Schaale (HFX Wanderers FC)
90+5′ – Yellow Card – Akeem Garcia (HFX Wanderers FC)

Three key performers

Christian Oxner (HFX Wanderers FC)

Producing arguably the biggest save in the CPL’s inaugural season so far, Oxner was key to HFX’s second clean sheet in a row. Another major stop of the first half, closing an angle following a disorienting cross-net pass, was just as crucial

Peter Schaale (HFX Wanderers FC)

CPL-USPORTS Draft pick Schaale wore the captain’s armband for HFX for the first time and looked the part. The centreback covered well, swallowing up attacking efforts in the air and on the ground.

Mohamed Kourouma (HFX Wanderers FC)

Back from a fever that kept him out of HFX’s previous match against York9, Kourouma showed his value to this Wanderers side over 90 minutes. A confident penalty, effective pressing and a near-perfect pass to Garcia on HFX’s second goal, Kourouma did it all.