RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Halifax Wanderers vs. Vancouver FC | June 21, 2025

The Halifax Wanderers got back into the win column on Saturday afternoon, beating Vancouver FC 1-0 at Wanderers Grounds.

Tiago Coimbra forced an outstanding save out of Eagles goalkeeper Callum Irving early in the match, heading the ball on target after Giorgio Probo picked him out with a cross from a corner kick. Irving was forced to make an athletic reaction save to push the ball over the bar and keep the game scoreless.

Probo had a chance himself ten minutes later, but Matteo Campagna was in the right place at the right time to make an important block in front of goal. Isaiah Johnston let a shot fly from distance shortly thereafter, but sent his effort high over the bar as the Wanderers continued to dominate the early stages of the match.

Vancouver put Rayane Yesli under some pressure just after the half-hour mark from a set piece, but the lofted cross into the box from Vasco Fry was caught by the tall Halifax netminder with relative comfort.

Irving was called upon again moments later, making a double save on Coimbra and Jason Bahamboula. He came out of his net to deny Coimbra when Probo sent him in alone on goal, and then got his fingertips to the attempt from Bahamboula to redirect it over the crossbar in a crucial moment for his side.

Vancouver's best opportunity of the first half was a shot from Juan Batista on target in the 35th minute, but for the most part the first period of play was dominated by the Wanderers, and the Vancouver goalkeeper Irving was the star of the show.

The two sides traded shots from distance in the first minute of the second half -- with Probo testing Irving and Kunle Dada-Luke testing Yesli early on -- but both goalkeepers made easy stops. Coimbra went down in the box moments later but the referee decided that he went down easily and did not call a penalty. Coimbra did not argue with the decision, but that didn't stop the Wanderers fans from voicing their displeasure.

Vancouver attempted five shots in a row as they started to build a bit of momentum in the middle of the second half, but each of their attempts was blocked or off target, with the exception of the early one from Dada-Luke.

The hosts thought they earned another penalty later in the half when Bahamboula went down in the box, but again referee Renzo Villanueva waved away the protests. Coimbra went down again late in the half, but Villanueva wasn't interested all three times.

Halifax finally found a breakthrough in the 77th minute, thanks to Thomas Meilleur-Giguère. The Wanderers defender rose above everyone to head a shot on target after a cross into the box from substitute Sean Rea from a corner kick, breaking the deadlock and reigniting the home crowd in Halifax as the ball dropped down into the bottom left corner of the Vancouver net.

Rea tried to double the lead four minutes later, but Irving made a big stop to give his side a chance to still come away with something. The Eagles did have a couple of opportunities, but could not take advantage and the match would end 1-1.

Halifax broke a three-game winless skid with the three points, but Vancouver is now winless in six CPL matches, and head to Vancouver Island next weekend for what could be a season-defining clash with Pacific FC.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Halifax Wanderers: Yesli; Pearlman, Meilleur-Giguère, Mekidèche, Timoteo; Bahamboula (Baï 75'), Johnston (Biello 75'), Callegari, Probo (Dias 67'); Coimbra (Sow 90+3'), Telfer (Rea 67')

Vancouver FC: Irving; Dada-Luke, Campagna, O'Connor, Enyou (Godbout 78'); Fotsing, Fry, Essoussi; Batista (Tahid 71'), Campbell, Bah

Goals

77' — Thomas Meilleur-Giguère (Halifax Wanderers)

Discipline

12' — Yellow: Isaiah Johnston (Halifax Wanderers)
17' — Yellow: Allan Enyou (Vancouver FC)
25' — Yellow: Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers)
80' -- Yellow: Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
85' -- Yellow: Elage Bah (Vancouver FC)