Inter Toronto's winless drought is over, ending on Sunday with a 4-3 triumph over the Halifax Wanderers.
With their first win since May, Toronto leapfrogged the Wanderers into sixth place in the Canadian Premier League.
The party started early for Inter Toronto, who took the lead less than three minutes into the match. After a venture down the left flank, the ball fell to Ariel Almagro just outside the top of the box. The Ecuadorian leathered it with his left foot across goal and into the bottom corner for a spectacular opening tally.
"It's been a couple months of telling him to shoot, so I'm glad he started to do it," Inter Toronto head coach Mauro Eustáquio quipped postmatch.
Almagro was outstanding in this game, even beyond the screamer he scored.
Just a few moments later, Toronto's second goal arrived as Almagro whipped in a cross that Halifax's Ryan Telfer accidentally flicked into his own net. Soon after, Almagro once again played provider, finding Steffen Yeates in space for a good finish that made it 3-0.
The Wanderers' frustration only grew as the first half continued, as they created several chances for themselves but struggled to challenge the goalkeeper. They did pull one back shortly before halftime, as a successful FVS challenge won them a penalty kick for a handball in the box. Miguel Arilla slotted that one to provide some consolation.
Any hope for Halifax of getting back into the game vanished a couple of minutes into the second half, though.
Toronto restored their three-goal advantage quickly as Julian Altobelli outmuscled a defender in the box to receive a pass and score his sixth of the season.
The Wanderers did continue to push, though; they responded to Altobelli's goal with another of their own, courtesy of an Andre Rampersad header.
Halifax were undoubtedly the more aggressive side as the match continued, playing with nothing to lose as they sought a way back into it.
Isaiah Johnston gave them a real foothold in the game with just over 10 minutes to play, as he tapped in a goalmouth pass from Arilla. With the deficit now at just one goal, the Wanderers continued to push for an equalizer that seemed impossible at the start of the half.
The fourth goal never did materialize for the Wanderers, who poured all they could into Toronto's penalty area. However, a couple of solid saves from Ivan Pavela kept them out, and preserved a crucial win for the hosts.
Halifax coach Vanni Sartini was evidently frustrated after the loss, remarking on how quickly this game got away from them; he pointed out that Toronto had jumped out to a two-goal lead having barely entered the penalty area. At that point, Sartini said, it was "like climbing Everest."
Although his side did do everything it could to get back into the game, and nearly succeeded, it was another difficult loss following last week's defeat in Ottawa.
"This is not our season, basically," Sartini said. "This is like an example of the fact that we're not ready to compete at the top level at the moment. We have to be completely honest."
Wanderers captain Andre Rampersad added that every match from here on out is like a playoff game for the club if they're to stand any chance of getting near the top four. They'll need to build on their competitive second-half showing to right the ship as soon as possible.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Inter Toronto: Pavela; Singh (Costa 78'), León, Sturing; Guzmán, Yeates, Bassett, Cordova (López 61'); Altobelli (Gonzales 78'), Skublak (Accettola 46'), Almagro (Badibanga 82')
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Troisi, Linder, Sow (Meilleur-Giguère 58'), Telfer; Olguin (Ahmed 78'), Callegari, Rampersad (Zitman 58'); Arilla, Ciccarelli (Bahamboula 58'), Reid (Johnston 46')
Goals
3' - Ariel Almagro (Inter Toronto)
10' - Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers) (Own Goal)
25' - Steffen Yeates (Inter Toronto)
45+4' - Miguel Arilla (Halifax Wanderers) (Penalty)
47' - Julian Altobelli (Inter Toronto)
56' - Andre Rampersad (Halifax Wanderers)
77' - Isaiah Johnston (Halifax Wanderers)
Discipline
60' - Yellow: Oswaldo León (Inter Toronto)
63' - Yellow: Lucas Olguin (Halifax Wanderers)
87' - Yellow: Steffen Yeates (Inter Toronto)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Ariel Almagro (Inter Toronto)
The Ecuadorian winger had a role in each of Toronto's first-half goals, scoring the first, then playing the cross that resulted in an own goal for the second and assisting the third.
What's Next?
Both these clubs will be at home next weekend in Matchweek 18. The Wanderers will host Vancouver FC on Saturday, Aug. 22 (2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT), and Inter Toronto take on FC Supra du Québec on Sunday (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT).