| Halifax Wanderers FC vs. Atlético Ottawa July 1 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, N.S. Watch Live: OneSoccer Tickets available here |
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A thrilling Canada Day doubleheader in the Canadian Premier League concludes in Halifax, where the Wanderers host defending CPL Champions Atlético Ottawa for the first time this season.
The Wanderers are looking to celebrate the national holiday with a home victory for a third straight year after wins over Valour on July 1 at the Wanderers Grounds in 2025, and Cavalry in 2024.
With a win on Wednesday, the Wanderers could leap Atlético Ottawa in the table and move up into third position.
Atlético Ottawa won the first meeting between the two sides this season 1-0 in the nation's capital on a goal from Jonantán Villal. Halifax, however, felt incredibly hard done by that result as they had chances to equalize, including hitting the post on a wide open net late in the match.
Both sides come into Wednesday's clash off the back of their best attacking performances of the season. Halifax scored five times, roughly 36 per cent of their entire attacking output for the season so far, in a 5-2 win over Pacific FC on Friday.
The Wanderers have lost just once at home this season, against league-leaders Forge back on May 2, and are looking for a third straight victory at the Wanderers Grounds.
Atlético Ottawa, meanwhile, were last in action on June 9, when they came from behind to defeat FC Supra du Québec 5-3.
While that was their third home win of the season, they still have just one — up the road in Montréal — from six away matches this season. They have also allowed 13 goals in those six matches, the joint most any club has allowed away from home this season.
The capital club are expecting to announce a new permanent head coach imminently following the departure of Diego Mejía. But interim head coach Drew Beckie said that they were waiting for the finalization of immigration paperwork before they could make that official.
Can Halifax build on its home momentum? Or will a refreshed Atlético Ottawa pick up where they left off and close the gap on the top two? Canada Day in Halifax is can't-miss.
NEWS & NOTES
- Atlético Ottawa announced on Tuesday that they have signed central defender Julian Dunn, formerly of the Halifax Wanderers.
- Atleti also announced the departure of goalkeeper Garissone Innocent following a mutual termination agreement, and Santiago López — who returns to Pumas UNAM after the expiry of his loan.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Alphonse, Linder, Sow, Godinho; Zitman, Olguin, Callegari; Arilla, Kachwele, Johnston
Atlético Ottawa: Crampton; Mbombio, Abatneh, Kozlovskiy; Antinoro, Castro, Aparicio, Coulanges; Tabla, Villal, García
KEY QUOTES
"This must be a six-point week for us. Because it would allow us to look at the standings in a completely different way." - Halifax Wanderers head coach Vanni Sartini
"We are continuing to evolve the system that we play. Maybe we can be a little bit more forceful offensively and improve on the defensive side. Those are two things that we need to do to win games, specifically on the defensive side and not give up such easy goals." - Atlético Ottawa head coach Drew Beckie
