Inter Toronto opened their new chapter as a club with a dramatic 2-2 draw with the Halifax Wanderers at York Lions Stadium.
Twice Inter Toronto led through goals from Julian Altobelli, and twice the Halifax Wanderers responded, including equalizing for a second time in the 86th minute.
"Honestly, it's disappointing," said Altobelli after the match. "Home games, we need three points, and to lose to two set pieces like that. It's disappointing. But there's still another 27 games ahead of us."
Inter Toronto lined up in a 3-5-2, with debutant Carlos Guzmán centreing a back three, and Tomasz Skublak and Julian Altobelli leading the line.
Halifax, meanwhile, also lined up in a back three in possession, with Ryan Telfer coming in for Francesco Troisi and Miguel Arilla making his full Wanderers debut on the right flank.
With each team overloading the wide areas, there were plenty of chances to build attacks from those areas for both. However, the service from the flanks into the box both from set plays and open play left much to be desired in the early stages.
As the first half wore on, the hosts pressed their advantage, pushing deeper and deeper into the Halifax territory. They finally found their breakthrough two minutes before the half. After a lengthy sequence of pressure around the Halifax box, the ball fell to Steffen Yeates just outside the area.
He spun his man, and muscled his way through two more players, before laying it off to Altobelli. The Inter Toronto striker's lofted shot fooled Marco Carducci, and gave Inter Toronto the first goal of their new era to give them a 1-0 lead.
That score remained at the half, with Inter Toronto maintaining a fairly deserved lead, firing nine shot attempts and holding 58.2 per cent of the ball during the first half.
Three minutes into the second half, Halifax equalized. A dangerous ball into the box from Lorenzo Callegari found the head of Thomas Meilleur-Giguère at the back post. Diego Urtiaga stopped the initial effort, but the rebound was bundled over the line by Kareem Sow.
After a mostly quiet first half, it was a rampant start to the second. In the 53rd minute, Inter Toronto were ahead again, as Altobelli added a second with a deft header on a lovely cross from Max Ferrari to go up 2-1.
In the 70th minute, Inter Toronto made a statement double substitution, bringing on Ollie Bassett and Béni Badibanga.
Looking to get back into the match, Halifax were unquestionably the aggressors as the match reached the hour mark. Lorenzo Callegari had another free kick from a similar distance to where he scored his worldie last week, but this time sent it just over the bar.
But Halifax would not be denied their equalizer, and in the 86th minute, off a corner kick, Isaiah Johnston redirected the ball into the path of Tavio Ciccarelli, who acrobatically finished off the chance for his first professional goal.
For the 19-year-old Ciccarelli, who has been with the Wanderers since 2024 but has struggled to get an opportunity on the pitch, it was a moment years in the making.
"I know that there was a lot of expectation when he joined as an EYT [Exceptional Young Talent] and he didn't have too much space," said Vanni Sartini. "Really happy that we had the possibility to give him space, and then also that he took the chance. And that's what you have to do as a young player."
Inter Toronto pushed for a third deep into stoppage time, but Halifax showed good character to hold on for a second straight result on the road.
The late drama kept the Halifax Wanderers unbeaten to begin the season, and also continued Vanni Sartini's incredible record against clubs from Toronto, now unbeaten in eight matches (7-1-0) in his coaching career.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Inter Toronto: Urtiaga; Ferrari, Sturing, Guzmán, Singh, Jimoh; Bitar (Badibanga 70'), Yeates, Córdova (Accettola 87'); Altobelli (Cabral 81'), Skublak (Bassett 70')
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Alphonse (Zitman 71'), Meilleur-Giguère, Sow; Arilla (Rampersad 60'), Johnston, Callegari, Telfer, Godinho (Akinwale 85'); Bahamboula (Troisi 60'), Kachwele (Ciccarelli 85')
Goals
43' -- Julian Altobelli (Inter Toronto)
49' -- Kareem Sow (Halifax Wanderers)
53' -- Julian Altobelli (Inter Toronto)
86' -- Tavio Ciccarelli (Halifax Wanderers)
Discipline
29' — Yellow: Tomasz Skublak (Inter Toronto)
39' -- Yellow: Gabriel Bitar (Inter Toronto)
68' -- Yellow: Luke SIngh (Inter Toronto)
77' -- Yellow: Marcus Godinho (Halifax Wanderers)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Julian Altobelli, Inter Toronto
The Inter Toronto striker scored a brace in the club's first match of the season for a second consecutive year. He also did an excellent job of holding up play, finishing with 13 of 16 passes completed.
What’s next?
Halfax return to the Wanderers Grounds for the first time this season, where they host Pacific in their 2026 home opener on Saturday, April 18 (1 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. AT).
Inter Toronto, meanwhile, remain at home where they will host Vancouver FC on Sunday, April 19 (5 p.m. ET).
For broadcast details of the 2026 CPL season, go to cplsoccer.com/watch.
