| Halifax Wanderers FC vs. Pacific FC June 26 at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, N.S. Watch Live: OneSoccer, CBC Gem Tickets available here |
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The Canadian Premier League is back this weekend!
After a brief pause during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, the league's regular season will resume on Friday, when the Halifax Wanderers host Pacific FC in the Maritimes.
The break came at a good time for both these sides, who will aim to build some momentum after a mid-June reset.
The Wanderers occupy seventh place in the CPL standings after 10 games, with a 2-3-5 record and nine points.
They're only three points out of the playoffs, with Inter Toronto sitting in fourth, but Halifax coach Vanni Sartini really needs his side to start putting the ball in the net.
Halifax have scored the joint-fewest goals in the league (nine), and they've been held scoreless in four of their last six matches in all competitions. They headed into the break having lost back-to-back games to Cavalry FC (2-0) and Forge FC (1-0).
However, Pacific are in even more desperate need of a win. They're in last place and have yet to win a match this year, still on three points with a record of 0-3-7.
The Tridents struggled in the opening chapter of the campaign, but they could put that all behind them with a few summer wins.
Yiannis Tsalatsidis will man the bench as Pacific's interim coach for a final time on Friday, before Terry Dunfield arrives to take over as head coach next week.
Tsalatsidis has led Pacific to two draws in his four games in charge, and with the squad refreshed after almost two weeks off, he'll aim for his first coaching win.
Halifax and Pacific met once already this year at the Wanderers Grounds, in a scintillating 2-2 draw back in April.
That time, Halifax scored twice in the second half to erase an early deficit — only for Pacific's Bul Juach to burst through and score the last-minute equalizer with a stunning solo effort.
NEWS & NOTES
- The Wanderers are still without defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, but Vanni Sartini disclosed that he will likely be fit to return within the next week. The squad is fully healthy otherwise.
- Marcus Godinho is available for Halifax after serving a one-match suspension.
- Pacific's Christian Greco-Taylor is one yellow card away from a one-match suspension for accumulation.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Linder, Sow, Alphonse; Godinho, Callegari, Johnston, Arilla; Bahamboula, Akinwale, Telfer
Pacific FC: Himaras; Chung, Konincks, Lajeunesse, Greco-Taylor; Gomulka, Daniels; Kratt, Bustos, Toualy; Díaz
KEY QUOTES
"We need to be excited to go, because I think from tomorrow it's do or die. We need to start winning games, especially at home. I know we are only three points behind the playoffs, but if we want to really make this season meaningful, we need to start winning, and we need to have that urgency." - Halifax Wanderers head coach Vanni Sartini
"There's been momentum building, and we actually need to keep that momentum building. ... It's been a pleasure to be working with the guys, the energy has been top, professionalism has been top, and we really, truly are growing every single game." - Pacific FC interim coach Yiannis Tsalatsidis
