FC Supra has qualified for the playoffs after winning a completely wild match on Sunday, 4-3 against the Halifax Wanderers.
Supra did it, and they did it with a great sense of showmanship, because, yes, there were countless twists and turns in this game.
Following the match, Alessandro Biello was understandably "happy for the club, the city, and the province" about the outcome.
"It's a historic victory and the entire province should rejoice," emphasized Supra head coach Kyt Selaidopoulos.
Supra scored four goals but also conceded three, which for a time meant their main rival, Vancouver FC, held onto their playoff ticket. However, Supra’s offensive firepower, coupled with Vancouver FC’s loss on the pitch of the CPL champions, Cavalry FC, allowed the Quebecers to become the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Ibrahim Condé with an opportunistic brace, then Diyaeddine Abzi with the inadvertent help of Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, and finally Sean Rea gave Supra the win.
FC Supra showed a lot of character and resilience, and at times they had that little bit of luck needed to pull off an incredible climb up the standings in recent weeks.
Was it easy, though? No, because FC Supra felt the Wanderers breathing down their necks more than once.
Adonijah Reid narrowing the score shortly before halftime sparked a Wanderers comeback in the second half (2-1; 45+7'). Vanni Sartini's men, despite being largely dominated in the first half, tied the game up for the first time shortly after the restart thanks to a Charles Auguste own goal (2-2; 54'). They came from behind once again, equalizing at 3-3 with about twenty minutes left to play.
The storyline was crazy from every angle—not just on the scoreboard, but in how the match unfolded.
When the score was only 1-0, the referee whistled for a penalty after Joakim Milli challenged at the feet of Adonijah Reid, but he ultimately overturned his decision after a VAR review.
Supra's chronic weakness on set pieces, which had already cost them two goals in this match, nearly proved very costly when Thomas Meilleur-Giguère hit the crossbar with a header off a corner kick when the score was still 1-0.
Ibrahim Condé, Supra's hero of the match, could also have been a liability to his team. Shortly before the break, he came within a hair of being sent off following a terrible tackle on Andre Rampersad's ankle. He ultimately escaped with a yellow card, but it was a close call.
Supra ultimately secured the three points they needed, while also taking advantage of Vancouver FC's defeat.
"We're going to take a break and enjoy this moment, then focus on the next game. The guys showed character, talent, and that they can play in this league and close out matches," rejoiced Kyt Selaidopoulos. "In the playoffs, anything can happen; it's special. Character will be the central element. We have to be patient, but we are competitors and anything can happen," he continued.
Supra will challenge the regular-season champions, Cavalry FC, in the CPL semi-finals, and since good news never comes alone, Loïc Kwemi secured his triumph in the Golden Boot race. He scored 15 goals this season.
"We have nothing to lose, and that puts us in a dangerous position," warned Alessandro Biello. "We have to be humble, because Cavalry is a very good team, but we are determined and we are competitors. We want to win."
The first leg will take place in Quebec and the second leg in Alberta.
Supra pulled off their crazy gamble at the end of a crazy match.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Halifax Wanderers: Astridge; Troisi, Sow, Meilleur-Giguère; Telfer (Deng, 65'); Callegari, Rampersad (Ciccarelli, 75'), Zitman (Arilla, 65'); Johnston, Reid (Olguin, 86'), Pierre (Bahamboula, 64')
FC Supra: Milli; Brault-Guillard, Auguste, Chrétien, Abzi; Sissoko (Mlah, 65'), Biello, Rea; Choinière (Santos, 65'), Kwemi (Elkalkouli, 88'); Condé (Fernandez, 82')
Goals
6' - Ibrahim Condé (FC Supra)
40' - Ibrahim Condé (FC Supra)
45+7' - Adonijah Reid (Halifax Wanderers)
54' - Charles Auguste (Own Goal) (Halifax Wanderers)
64' - Diyaeddine Abzi (FC Supra)
69' - Kareem Sow (Halifax Wanderers)
71' - Sean Rea (FC Supra)
Discipline
45' - Yellow: Zachary Brault-Guillard (FC Supra)
45+5' - Yellow: Ibrahim Condé (FC Supra)
85' - Yellow: Miguel Arilla (Halifax Wanderers)
90+3' - Yellow: Jabu Deng (Halifax Wanderers)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Ibrahim Condé, FC Supra
Scoring a brace, Ibrahim Condé netted the crucial goals needed to put his team on the right track. His foul on Rampersad could have earned him a red card and changed the course of the match. In the end, he was allowed to stay on the pitch with just a warning. Given how the second half unfolded, you could easily call it the turning point in the game.
What's Next?
For FC Supra, the first leg of the CPL semifinal against Cavalry FC will be Sunday, Nov. 1 at Stade Boréale (4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PCT).
