The Halifax Wanderers made sure to mark their return from the World Cup action on a winning note on Friday, as they picked up a 5-2 win over Pacific FC at Wanderers Grounds, snapping a two-game losing streak in the process.
After a back-and-forth start to the game, as the Wanderers went up 2-0 inside 32 minutes before Pacific responded with two goals of their own by the 64th minute, the Wanderers managed to pull away in the last 25 minutes of the game with a trio of goals.
As a result, the Wanderers have pulled into a tie with Inter Toronto for fourth place in the CPL table, although they've played two more games than Toronto - Pacific, however, remains bottom of the table, sitting as the only CPL team without a win through 11 matches, having matched 2022 FC Edmonton for the longest winless start to a season with this defeat.
Wanderers manager, Vanni Sartini, made two changes to the starting lineup from the Wanderers' 1-0 defeat to Forge FC in their final game before the break, as Cyprian Kachwele and Marcus Godinho came in for Tavio Ciccarelli and Francesco Troisi.
Pacific, meanwhile, made just one change to the lineup that they started in a 2-1 defeat to Vancouver FC in their final game before the break, as Pacific FC interim head coach Yiannis Tsalatsidis inserted Tristan Marshall for Christian Greco-Taylor.
To start the game, however, it'd be the visitors on the front foot, as Pacific pushed to earn an early lead. Ronan Kratt had a good half-chance from a tight angle early on, but his low shot was easily saved by Marco Carducci, before Josh Heard flashed a shot from distance over the goal not long after that.
At the other end, the Wanderers found their first good chance in the 12th minute, as Miguel Arilla found Finn Linder with an excellent inswinging delivery on a corner, but Linder's powerful header crashed into the crossbar and stayed out.
Continuing a lively start to the game, the Wanderers had another big chance in the 20th minute, as Cyprian Kachwele snuck behind Pacific's defenders, but his low shot was kept out by a confident save from Eleias Himaras.
Eventually, that run of Wanderers pressure yielded a goal in the 26th minute, as they were able to overwhelm Pacific's defence on a set-piece to put themselves in the lead. There, Arilla whipped in a dangerous corner, one that bounced off a few bodies, with the final touch coming off of Pacific defender Eric Lajeunesse for an own goal.
Having put themselves in front, it didn't take long for the Wanderers to add to their lead, either. After playing a big role in the own goal, Arilla stepped up with a goal of his own, as he fired a beautiful shot into the top corner after the ball fell to him in a dangerous spot inside the box.
Despite going down by two goals, however, Pacific wasn't done and out quite yet, as they halved the deficit in the 34th minute. After a Wanderers turnover, Yann Toualy picked up the ball and drove into the box, doing well to create a lane to pick out a low cross towards the back post, where he found a wide-open Marco Bustos, who slotted home into an empty net from close range to put his team within one.
From there, the game would reach half-time without much further fanfare, as both teams regrouped ahead of what was expected to be a strong end to the game, with the Wanderers still defending their lead and Pacific eager to pull back a result.
That slow end to the first half would continue in the second half, though, as both teams eased their way back into the match.
As a result, the next big chance didn't come until the 55th minute. There, however, Pacific came extremely close to finding the equalizer that they craved, as Alejandro Díaz fired a dangerous half-volley towards goal from the edge of the box, forcing an excellent diving stop out of Carducci.
Eager to get some momentum back, the Wanderers had a great chance in the 60th minute, as Isaiah Johnston teed up Sven Zitman with a great pass inside the box, but Zitman's dangerous shot was kept out by a fantastic block from Pacific's Kadin Chung.
Then, on the ensuing corner, Linder had a great chance off a half-volley after a scramble in the box, but his shot would also be kept out by another great Pacific block, this time from Tristan Marshall. Right after, Lucas Olguin would have an attempt of his own, but while his shot would avoid getting blocked, it'd slide just wide of Pacific's goal.
Unfortunately for the Wanderers, they'd come to regret that string of missed chances almost immediately. After a scramble in the box, the ball fell to Díaz, who managed to turn and fire a shot towards goal, a shot that his teammate, Taras Gomulka, who had just seen a dangerous shot blocked moments earlier, deflected past Carducci to make it 2-2.
As soon as Pacific had found themselves back in the game, however, they went back down, with their joy proving to be short-lived.
Plus, to add to their misery, they would be the victims of their own demise, too, as Chung unfortunately steered home a dangerous low cross from the Wanderers Francesco Troisi through the leg of Himaras and into his own net for yet another goal.
Things would then go from bad to worse for Pacific in the 74th minute, too. After a great run from Arilla down the left flank, he found Johnston with a fantastic low cross, and Johnston did well to steer the ball into the back of the net with a tidy left-footed finish.
Having done well to take the sting out of the game after taking that two-goal lead, the Wanderers did still push for a fifth goal, and they eventually found a great chance to get it in the second minute of stoppage time. There, second-half substitute Tavio Ciccarelli did well to win a penalty after a clever turn inside the box.
Without any hesitation, Ciccarelli then stepped up to take that spot kick, and he made no mistake, firing his shot into the top left corner to officially seal the victory for his team.
It might not have been the way they drew it up, especially when seeing how Pacific was able to claw their way back into the game after a slow start, but the Wanderers will be pleased that they rescued control of the game to secure a valuable win in front of their home fans in the end.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Alphonse, Linder, Sow (Troisi 46'), Godinho; Callegari, Olguin (Rampersad 82), Zitman; Arilla (Telfer 75'), Johnston (Bahamboula 90+2'); Kachwele (Ciccarelli 75')
Pacific FC: Himaras; Heard (Vales 85'), Konincks, Lajeunesse (Quintana 85'), Marshall; Chung, Gomulka; Kratt (Baldisimo 57'), Bustos (Daniels 79'), Toualy; Díaz (Juach 79')
Goals
26' - Eleias Himaras (Pacific FC) (Own Goal)
32' - Miguel Arilla (Halifax Wanderers)
34' - Marco Bustos (Pacific FC)
64' - Taras Gomulka (Pacific FC)
68' - Kadin Chung (Pacific FC) (Own Goal)
74' - Isaiah Johnston (Halifax Wanderers)
90+4' - Tavio Ciccarelli (Halifax Wanderers)
Discipline
58' - Yellow: Lucas Olguin (Halifax Wanderers)
63' - Yellow: Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Miguel Arilla, Halifax Wanderers FC
Arilla was a sparkplug in attack for the Wanderers, as he scored a goal and added an assist, capping off a performance where he also created three chances, took nine touches in Pacific's box, completed two dribbles, and attempted four passes into the final third.
What's Next?
The Wanderers will remain at home for their next clash, as they'll host Atlético Ottawa at Wanderers' Grounds for a Canada Day clash on Wednesday, July 1st (4:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. AT). Pacific, meanwhile, will face these same Wanderers in their next match - that will be held at Starlight Stadium on Sunday, July 5th (3:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. AT).
For the full broadcast schedule: cplsoccer.com/watch.