HIGHLIGHTS: Vancouver FC vs HFX Wanderers FC (July 7, 2023)

Vancouver FC picked up a crucial home victory on Friday, as they downed the Halifax Wanderers 2-1 in an entertaining clash at Langley’s Willoughby Community Park, allowing them to temporarily climb to seventh in the CPL table.

Despite facing a surging Wanderers side, who had won three of their last four games, Vancouver managed to pick up their second home victory of the season, rewarding themselves for a strong run of performances as of late.

After a quiet start from both teams, Vancouver would open the scoring in the 10th minute, jumping out to an early lead. After a mix-up at the back for Halifax, Vancouver did well to catch them scrambling, before Min-Jae Kwak found a wide-open Gabriel Bitar in the box with a low cross for Bitar’s first of the season.

Unfortunately for Vancouver, however, their lead would be extremely short-lived, as Halifax tied the game less than two minutes later. After a great ball into the box found Massimo Ferrin at the back post, he’d do well to flick it across goal, where a waiting Tiago Coimbra would react first to meet it, slotting it into the roof of the net.

After that, the game would slow right back down, though, as both teams continued to feel it out. They’d continue to trade chances, as Rocco Romeo had a good chance for Vancouver after a corner in the 18th minute but his shot was blocked, while Halifax nearly scored off a wild scramble in the 34th minute, but the game would remain tied at one through 45 minutes.

On the other side of half time, Halifax would get the first good chance of the second half, as Ferrin did well to cut inside and fire a shot from just outside of the bench. Despite catching all of it, however, his shot would be easily saved by Vancouver’s Jeremy Zielinski, who was filling in for usual starter and Vancouver captain, Callum Irving, who was absent due to illness.

At the other end, Vancouver would really start to grow into the game, as they looked to regain their lead.

Their efforts would pay off in the 56th minute, too, as they managed to break in transition. There, Kwak found Shaan Hundal with a nice ball, and he’d do well to lay it off to Mikaël Cantave, who’d slot the ball into the bottom right corner for his first goal with the club after his recent arrival from Cavalry.

Despite going down, Halifax tried to repeat their earlier trick and respond with a quick equalizer. To their credit, they’d nearly pull it off in the 58th minute, too, as Ferrin managed an acrobatic attempt after a cross into the box, but his effort sliced just wide of the goal.

Continuing to grow, Halifax had another good look in the 68th minute, as the ball fell to Mo Omar outside of the box, but his curled attempt would land right in the hands of Zielinski.

Eager to put the game to rest, Vancouver would continue to push at the other end, though. They’d nearly be rewarded for it in the 69th minute, as Cantave stepped up to a dangerous free kick, but his curled attempt skimmed the wrong side of the post and stayed out.

Then, in the 76th minute, Hundal had a nice look at goal from inside the box after a nice Bitar ball, but his attempt would be just saved by the right leg of Halifax’s goalkeeper, Yannick Fillion.

Meanwhile, Halifax continued to push, but remained unsuccessful in their attempts to grab an equalizer, as Riley Ferrazzo and Zachary Fernandez each had good looks after the 80th minute, but both of their shots would be blocked.

After that, Halifax then had their best chance to equalize in the 87th minute. There, Théo Collomb found a wide-open Lifumpe Mwandwe with a fantastic cross into the six-yard box, but Mwandwe somehow sent his header over the goal from close range despite being unmarked.

Continuing a frenetic end to the game, Vancouver nearly got their third deep into stoppage time, as Ameer Kinani caught Fillion off his line after a turnover, but his 40-yard attempt sailed just wide of an empty goal.

From there, however, despite a late push from Halifax, Vancouver did just what they needed to in order to secure the victory, allowing them to pick up all three points in front of their home fans.

BOX SCORE

Goals

10′ — Gabriel Bitar (Vancouver FC)

12′ — Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers)

56′ — Mikaël Cantave (Vancouver FC)

Discipline

35′ — Yellow: Aidan Daniels (Halifax Wanderers)

68′ — Yellow: Cristian Campagna (Halifax Wanderers)

70′ — Yellow: Gabriel Bitar (Vancouver FC)

72′ — Yellow: Mo Omar (Halifax Wanderers)

72′ — Yellow: Anthony White (Vancouver FC)