RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC | August 30, 2026

Pacific FC have earned their first win of the 2026 Canadian Premier League season, as they beat the Halifax Wanderers 4-3 at Starlight Stadium on Sunday. 

Despite trailing three times in this game, Pacific were able to equalize each time, before eventually taking their first lead of the game in second-half stoppage time. 

As a result, they were finally able to do what they needed to do to earn that elusive first win from there, surviving a late Wanderers onslaught to take home all three points. 

Plus, with that, they were able to put a decent dent in the Wanderers' playoff ambitions, too, as Halifax could've cut the deficit between them and fourth-place Vancouver, who they beat last week, to four points after Vancouver fell to Cavalry FC on Saturday. Instead, that gap remains at seven points, with the Wanderers yet to win back-to-back games in CPL play this season. 

Yet, that's a credit to the work Pacific did to ensure the Wanderers would leave Vancouver Island without any points, despite the visitors spending a large portion of the game in front. 

Certainly, it didn't take long for the Wanderers to put the ball in the back of the net, as they did well to turn a wave of early pressure into a goal. 

After a dangerous ball towards the back post from Jefferson Alphonse, Adonijah Reid did well to meet the cross and nod it across the six-yard box, where it hit the leg of Pacific defender Diego Konincks as he jostled with Jason Bahamboula and rolled into the back of the net for the own goal. 

Not wanting to let that goal snowball into anything worse, Pacific did well to find some life after conceding, however, as they tried to find a quick equalizer. 

First, Yann Toualy did well to fashion the space to fire a shot from inside the box in the 12th minute, but his shot sailed right into the grateful hands of goalkeeper Sinclair Astridge, who was making his Wanderers debut in this match. 

Soon after, Pacific had an even better chance in the 14th minute, as Taras Gomulka cut inside and fired a shot from 25 yards, doing well to catch all of the ball with a powerful strike, one that was only denied by the crossbar. Then, moments later, Marco Bustos drove his way into the box, but his low shot rolled just wide of the goal. 

Pacific's momentum would continue to grow from there, as they got closer and closer to that equalizer. It started with a nice ball recovery from Konincks, and he managed to find Toualy with a nice through ball, but despite having a good opportunity to face Astridge on a 1-on-1, his shot was saved by the young goalkeeper. 

At the other end, the Wanderers were finally able to fashion another chance in the 31st minute. It fell to the feet of the dangerous Isaiah Johnston, too, who whipped a dangerous low ball into the box, one that Jason Bahamboula just wasn't able to get enough contact on, sending his shot wide. 

Eventually, though, Pacific would finally find that equalizer, as their pressure paid off in the 34th minute. After a sequence where Pacific generated a bunch of half-chances, including a dangerous Ronan Kratt half-volley that was blocked by a Halifax defender, Toualy managed to tee up Gomulka for a dangerous shot, one that Gomulka stroked into the top corner to make it 1-1. 

Not done there, Gomulka would continue his lively first half and almost found a second goal right before half-time, as he fired another shot from distance after a corner, sending his attempt just over the crossbar. 

Then, Kratt had a dangerous left-footed shot inside the box in stoppage time, doing well to catch all of his attempt, but Astridge stood strong to catch his shot.  

From there, though, the game reached half-time, which was unfortunate for Pacific, who seemed to have all of the momentum in their favour at the break. 

Despite that, however, they managed to pick up where they left off in the second half. In the 49th minute, Bustos did well to open up space for a shot inside the box, but Astridge did well to deny him a goal after closing down his shooting angle. 

Halifax, meanwhile, responded with a half chance in the 51st minute, as the ball fell to Bahamboula at the edge of the box, but his quick shot sailed just over the crossbar. 

It turns out that'd be a warning shot for Pacific, too, as the Wanderers then had the ball in their net just moments later. 

This time, Lorenzo Callegari would try a shot from distance, and he'd catch all of his attempt, firing a powerful shot that dipped just underneath the crossbar for a spectacular goal. 

For Pacific, that was a cruel blow to take, as they'd felt that they were unlucky not to be in front, but instead, they had to try and come back from behind once again. 

This time, though, it wouldn't take long for them to equalize. After a nice ball from Daniels to find Toualy alone in the box, Toualy managed just to poke the ball past an onrushing Astridge and into the path of Pacific full back Kadin Chung, who was then able to smash the ball home into an empty net from close range to make it 2-2.  

Despite that blow, however, Halifax did well to respond with another goal in the 76th minute. After a quiet stretch, the Wanderers came alive with a swarm of chances, with the ball eventually falling to Ryan Telfer inside the box, and he wasn't going to miss his attempt to put his team ahead for the third time of the game. 

Naturally, though, continuing this wild game, Pacific would somehow find a way to soon equalize, as they didn't lie down despite conceding that third goal. 

It'd start with a dangerous free kick from Lukas Browning Lagerfeldt, who sent a powerful shot into the crossbar, before his rebound bounced to a wide-open Konincks, who avenged his early own goal with a goal into the right net to make it 3-3. 

Konincks wouldn't be done there, either, as he'd help Pacific finally take their first lead of the game in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. 

This time, he'd have to use his head to score, as he rose highest to meet a perfect free kick delivery from Mathias Vales, powering the ball home to put Pacific ahead 4-3. 

From there, Pacific would hold onto their lead, doing what they needed to in order to see the result over the line.

Now, they'll hope that can power them to a strong end to their campaign, as they've been trending in the right direction in recent games, even if the results haven't been there to show for it. Therefore, look for them to use this win as proof of concept for them as they try to finish the season with a few more victories under their belt.

Box Score

Starting XIs

Pacific FC: Melvin; Chung, Quintana, Konincks, Greco-Taylor; Gomulka (Browning Lagerfeldt 83'), Juhmi; Bustos (Hundal 83'), Daniels (Vales 72'), Toualy (Heard 83'); Kratt (Díaz 72')

Halifax Wanderers: Astridge; Alphonse, Meilleur-Giguère, Linder, Telfer; Callegari, Olguin (Rampersad 90'), Zitman (Troisi 79'); Johnston (Sow 79'), Reid (Pierre 61'); Bahamboula (Ciccarelli 90')

Goals

3' - Diego Konincks (Pacific FC) (Own Goal)

34' - Taras Gomulka (Pacific FC) 

53' - Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers) 

56' - Kadin Chung (Pacific FC) 

76' - Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers) 

85' - Diego Konincks (Pacific FC) 

90+2' - Diego Konincks (Pacific FC) 

Discipline

*37' - Yellow: Sven Zitman (Halifax Wanderers)

48' - Yellow: Juan Quintana (Pacific FC)

66' - Yellow: Jason Bahamboula (Halifax Wanderers)