The Halifax Wanderers picked up an important win on Monday afternoon, beating Vancouver FC 3-2 as part of Natal Day celebrations in the Nova Scotia capital.
The Eagles wasted no time scoring, but the goal came in an unorthodox way. After a long ball down the pitch, Miki Cantave tried to volley the ball past Wanderers goalkeeper Yann Fillion, but his shot struck the goalkeeper and came back toward him. The ricochet off Cantave’s body ended up in the back of the net, giving the visitors the lead in just the fourth minute.
They were down a man when they scored as Belgian midfielder Olivier Rommens collided with another player in the first minute of the game. He was replaced shortly after the early goal by Matteo Campagna.
The Halifax Wanderers picked up an important win on Monday afternoon, beating Vancouver FC 3-2 as part of Natal Day celebrations in the Nova Scotia capital.
The Eagles wasted no time scoring, but the goal came in an unorthodox way. After a long ball down the pitch, Miki Cantave tried to volley the ball past Wanderers goalkeeper Yann Fillion, but his shot struck the goalkeeper and came back toward him. The ricochet off Cantave’s body ended up in the back of the net, giving the visitors the lead in just the fourth minute.
They were down a man when they scored as Belgian midfielder Olivier Rommens collided with another player in the first minute of the game. He was replaced shortly after the early goal by Matteo Campagna.
Both sides had a couple more chances as the half played out, but neither could find another breakthrough, and the first half ended 1-1. Coimbra came closest late in the half with a backheeled effort that forced a save from Callum Irving after the Wanderers striker received a backheeled pass himself from teammate Lorenzo Callegari.
After play resumed, the Wanderers found two goals just eight minutes apart to give themselves a 3-1 advantage. First, Andre Rampersad finished off a great set piece play from the hosts, volleying the ball past Callum Irving from close range after Dan Nimick headed it across the box after a long pass into the danger zone following a corner kick.
Less than ten minutes later, the Wanderers were awarded a penalty after Paris Gee chopped down Vitor Dias in the box. Dan Nimick did as Dan Nimick does, stepping up and burying his penalty to double his team’s lead in the 63rd minute.
The Wanderers, led by debutant Sean Rea, had several opportunities to add to their lead further, but none of them came to fruition.
Alejandro Diaz pulled one back in the seventh minute of stoppage time for the visitors, but it was too little, too late. Diaz’s chip over the head of Fillion was the last kick of the game.
Despite the win, the Wanderers remain at the bottom of the table, but are now within three points of fifth-place Vancouver for the final spot in an incredibly tight playoff race.
