Lorenzo Callegari scored a stunning free kick, and Marco Carducci shut the door as the Halifax Wanderers emerged 1-0 victors over Vancouver FC at Willoughby Stadium on Saturday.
It was far from perfect for the Wanderers in Vanni Sartini's coaching debut, but Callegari's moment of quality was enough to earn him a big three points to begin his tenure.
Vancouver FC's starting eleven featured a big surprise as club captain Callum Irving, who had started in goal in all but one match in club history, was not in the squad. Martin Nash confirmed after the match that his injury is minor and he could be back with the team as soon as next week.
Instead, it was 20-year-old goalkeeper Matheus de Souza who made his professional debut. The Eagles lined up in a 4-1-4-1, with Mohamed Amissi leading the line.
In the Halifax net, Marco Carducci made his Wanderers' debut following seven seasons with his hometown Cavalry FC. Sartini's men lined up in a 3-5-2, with club debutants Marcus Godinho and 18-year-old Francesco Troisi occupying the wingback positions.
On a lovely afternoon in Langley, both sides took a bit to warm up to the match, as chances were limited through the first half-hour. But Vancouver started to create more as the half wore on, particularly down the left flank through Thierno Bah and Nicolás Mezquida.
They came incredibly close to opening the scoring in the 42nd minute, when a Paris Gee cross fell into the path of Mezquida in the six-yard box. However, Carducci came out of the net and made himself big to make a tremendous save to keep the match level. It remained scoreless at the half.
The Eagles went right back on the attack to begin the second half, and won a free kick just outside the D at the top of the box. However, the Halifax wall held first and denied both the initial shot and the rebound.
In the 56th minute, Mezquida slipped Amissi through the lines, but the striker's curled shot was denied by Carducci. A few minutes later, Amissi had another great opportunity as a stunning cross from Doner picked him out in the middle, but he put his header just over the net.
But Halifax found a moment of pure magic in the 76th minute. Callegari lined up a free kick from well outside the box and knuckled it into the top corner for an absolutely breathtaking goal. It was just his second CPL goal in his fourth season with the Wanderers, but undoubtedly a testament to his quality.
Vancouver looked to quickly respond, but again Carducci would have none of it. He made an outstanding double save, including a diving stop on a Pecile shot that looked destined for the bottom corner.
There was one final moment of drama in the dying seconds, as a Terran Campbell overhead kick struck the crossbar, before the play was ruled offside. Despite being dominated in the expected goals battle 1.67 to just 0.21, Halifax emerged with the game's only actual goal in the 1-0 win.
For Halifax, it was just their second opening day victory in club history, and first since 2022.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Vancouver FC: De Souza; Doner, Campagna, Field, Gee; Pecile, Polisi; Toomey (Campbell 66'), Mezquida (Fotsing 82'), Bah (Godbout 82'); Amissi
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Alphonse, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow; Troisi (Arilla 66'), Callegari, Johnson (Telfer 66'), Olguin, Godinho; Bahamboula (Linder 85'), Kachwale (Akinwale 73')
Goals
69' -- Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
Discipline
4' — Yellow: Marcello Polisi (Vancouver FC)
22' -- Yellow: Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
39' -- Yellow: Lucas Olguin (Halifax Wanderers)
90+3' -- Yellow: Victor Akinwale (Halifax Wanderers)
90+5' -- Yellow: Tom Field (Vancouver FC)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Marco Carducci, Halifax Wanderers
In his Halifax debut, Carducci kept his side in the game with several outstanding stops, including a brilliant point-blank save on Nicolás Mezquida in the first half. He made five stops in total.
What’s next?
Vancouver FC remain at home, hosting Forge at Willoughby Stadium on Sunday, April 12 (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT). Halifax, meanwhile, head to Toronto, where they take on Inter Toronto in their home, and season, opener on Saturday, April 11 (3 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. AT)
For broadcast details of the 2026 CPL season, go to cplsoccer.com/watch.
