RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Halifax Wanderers vs. Cavalry FC (June 14, 2025)

A well-contested battle between second-place Cavalry FC and third-place Halifax at the Wanderers Grounds ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon.

Tiago Coimbra opened the scoring for the hosts in the eighth minute, while substitute Caniggia Elva responded for Cavalry in the 69th minute.

The match kicked off the Canadian Premier League's weekend of One Year Out celebrations, and flags and kits from multiple nations could be seen around the grounds in anticipation of Canada welcoming the world next year.

Cavalry had a shout for a penalty in just the fourth minute. An underhit backpass saw Sergio Camargo arrive at the ball just before Wanderers' goalkeeper Rayane Yesli. The goalkeeper and player collided, but much to Camargo's frustration, no spot kick was awarded.

Despite having just 19.8 per cent of the ball through the opening eight minutes of the match, Halifax struck first. In transition, a lovely ball over the top from Isaiah Johnston bounced perfectly into the path of Coimbra. The Halifax striker chested the ball beyond an onrushing Marco Carducci, before calmly finishing off the chance, despite pressure from Callum Montgomery, and putting Halifax up 1-0.

The goal flipped the script on Cavalry, who had opened the scoring in their past six league matches. The visitors continued to hold the majority of the ball through the early stages of the game, but struggled to deal with Halifax's aggressive press, triggered by Coimbra, Ryan Telfer and Jason Bahamboula.

Behind that initial line, Halifax were compact and outstanding at limiting the spaces where Cavalry could play through them. They limited the visitors to just one shot attempt, none on target and five touches in their box during the first half.

Toward the end of the half, Halifax started to find some more joy in attack, with a couple of outstanding chances through some excellent build-up down the flanks. Both Bahamboula and Giorgio Probo had great looks in the box, but saw their shots blocked.

Cavalry had a half chance just before the half-time whistle, as Ali Musse played a lovely clipped ball to Jay Herdman at the back post. The New Zealander couldn't direct the ball goalward, however, or to Camargo, who was waiting in the middle. The hosts held a 1-0 lead after a solid first half.

Cavalry nearly instantly equalized to begin the second half, as Camargo got in behind the Halifax backline before cutting the ball back for Tobias Warschewski. The German looked to have an open net, but an incredible defensive block from Adam Pearlman denied him what looked like a sure goal.

In a second half that began far more open than the first, Halifax went down the other way and nearly scored themselves, with Telfer forcing a good save from Carducci on a stinging strike from distance.

The match quickly settled down thereafter. Looking to switch things up, Cavalry brought on Mihail Gherasimencov at left-back, shifting Eryk Kobza into midfield.

After two more substitutions in the 69th minute, bringing on Elva and Nicolas Wähling, Cavalry finally found a goal. Camargo sent a knuckling strike from distance off the post. Elva latched onto the rebound and forced a brilliant save from Halifax goalkeeper Rayane Yesli. The rebound popped right back into his path, however, and he pushed it past Yesli to tie the game 1-1.

Following the goal, Halifax countered with a triple substitution in the 74th minute, bringing in Kareem Sow, Yohan Baï and Alessandro Biello.

It was the visitors, however, who looked the more likely to find a winner in the latter stages of the game, as they put wave after wave of pressure on the Halifax backline. Some heroic defending from Halifax was all that stood between the Cavs and the goal.

Halifax, however, had a great chance to win it in the 90th minute, as a great low cross from Baï found fellow substitute Sean Rea, but a brilliant block from Fraser Aird saw the ball bounce out harmlessly for a corner. Bahamboula then had another good chance from close range in stoppage time, but couldn't beat Carducci.

The draw made it nine straight unbeaten for Cavalry FC. Halifax remain winless in their last three, but will be happy with a lot of their effort and tactical execution on Saturday.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Halifax Wanderers: Yesli; Pearlman, Meilleur-Giguère, Mekidèche (Sow 74'), Timoteo; Bahamboula, Johnston, Callegari, Probo (Rea 77'); Coimbra (Baï 74'), Telfer (Biello 74')

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird, Kobza, Montgomery, Laing; Shome (Elva 68'), Piegrass (Gherasimencov 59'); Musse (Antoniuk 90+4'), Camargo, Herdman (Wähling 68'); Warschewski

Goals

8' -- Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers)
69' -- Caniggia Elva (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

32' -- Yellow: Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers)
39' -- Yellow: Eryk Kobza (Cavalry FC)
78' -- Yellow: Isaiah Johnston (Halifax Wanderers)
90+3' -- Yellow: Tobias Warschewski (Cavalry FC)