RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Vancouver FC vs. Halifax Wanderers (May 17, 2025)

The Halifax Wanderers have continued their newfound road success to start 2025, as they defeated Vancouver FC 2-0 at Willoughby Community Park on Saturday.

After a rough week, in which they lost for the first time in CPL action, and were eliminated from the Canadian Championship, it's a big bounce-back result for the Wanderers, who remained second in the CPL table.

The Wanderers had an early look at goal in just the 2nd minute, as Giorgio Probo picked up the ball at the edge of the box and fired a shot, one that forced a good early save out of Vancouver's Callum Irving.

At the other end, Vancouver had a great chance in the 10th minute, as Vasco Fry picked up the ball in a good position just inside the box, but he fired a powerful strike just wide of the near post from a tight angle.

Then, right after, they came even closer to scoring on a spectacular effort. After winning a duel at the edge of the box, Mehdi Essoussi fired a powerful strike from the edge of the box, one that slammed into the crossbar, denying him of a fantastic goal.

Continuing a strong half, Vancouver had another great opportunity to score in the 33rd minute. After a nice dribble from Elage Bah, he managed to open up space to fire a shot from a tight angle inside of the box, but his curled strike would be nicely saved by the Wanderers' Rayane Yesli.

At the other end, Halifax nearly scored on the subsequent counter-attack, as Sean Rea found Probo with a great floated ball towards the back post, but Probo was unable to keep his header below the crossbar.

After half time, Vancouver quickly found their feet again, and almost scored inside the first 10 minutes of the second half. After a set-piece, the ball fell to Alejandro Díaz inside of the box, but he curled a strike just wide of the goal.

From there, however, their momentum would be halted, as the game was paused due to a lightning strike in the 57th minute.

Following that 35-minute break, it'd be the Wanderers who'd come out strongly, and they'd open the scoring in the 59th minute. After a probing pass from Probo, he found Ryan Telfer in behind the Vancouver defence, and he slotted the ball into the bottom corner with a perfect finish to make it 1-0.

Then, they almost doubled their lead in the 63rd minute, as Jason Bahamboula found Rea with a nice cutback, but Rea sent his shot just wide from in close.

Eager to get back into the game, Vancouver started to grow back into the game, and had a decent opportunity in the 73rd minute, as Juan Batista flashed a shot just wide of the mark from a good position inside the box.

Wanting to put the game away on their end, Telfer almost found his brace in the 80th minute, as he snuck behind Vancouver's defence after a nice run, but his shot would be saved by Irving.

In the end, they'd find that insurance marker late, however. After a nice run from Wesley Timóteo, he found Tiago Coimbra at the back post, and he scored into a gaping cage to secure the victory for his team.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Vancouver FC: Irving; Campagna (Gee 75'), O'Connor, Norman Jr., Enyou (Ndiaye 57'); Fotsing (Batista 46'), Essoussi, Fry; Campbell (Godbout 57'), Díaz (Tahid 75'), Bah

Halifax Wanderers FC: Yesli; Pearlman, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow, Timóteo; Johnston, Callegari (Rampersad 90'); Bahamboula (Baï 77'), Probo (Coimbra 77'), Rea (Biello 84'); Telfer

Goals

*59' -- Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers)

*90+4' -- Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers)
*

Discipline

20' -- Yellow: Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC)

40' -- Yellow: David Norman Jr. (Vancouver FC)

53' -- Yellow: Rayane Yesli (Halifax Wanderers)

77' -- Yellow: Jason Bahamboula (Halifax Wanderers)