RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: York United vs. Halifax Wanderers (May 31, 2025) | CPL ON TOUR

The Canadian Premier League introduced itself to Québec City on Saturday night at Stade TELUS-Université Laval, as York United FC defeated the Halifax Wanderers 2-0 in the CPL's second-ever On Tour match -- and first in La Belle Province.

To mark the special occasion of the CPL's first-ever match in Québec, the Wanderers' lineup had a particularly Québécois flavour, with five of their starters born or raised in the province plus a further three on the bench. Meanwhile, York accounted for the absences of Gabriel Bitar and Shola Jimoh by playing Adonijah Reid on the right wing, while captain Elijah Adekugbe remained in the back three.

In wet, windy conditions, it wasn't the most free-flowing of starts, as both sides adjusted to the weather and slick turf pitch. However, York were the more aggressive team in the opening stages, and just five minutes in they tested Rayane Yesli as Steffen Yeates' shot from distance stung the goalkeeper's palms, and Yesli was forced to make another quick stop on Kembo Kibato who nearly buried the rebound.

After a handful more chances, York found their breakthrough in the 29th minute. As they broke forward along the left flank, Orlando Botello flicked a long-distance cross a long way toward the back post, where Julian Altobelli arrived, unmarked, to finish and score his seventh goal of the CPL season.

Halifax soon became more comfortable in the game and started threatening more; Lorenzo Callegari had a shot on target just before halftime, and the Wanderers continued finding more of the ball in the attacking half, although they still went into the interval down a goal.

York threatened again quickly after halftime, as Adonijah Reid made a blistering solo run into the box, but he was denied by a combination of Yesli and Adam Pearlman.

In the final half hour, the Wanderers again became protagonists as they sought an equalizer; Giogio Probo began dropping deep to try and pick up the ball and create chances, and Halifax probed further and further into the half, testing Diego Urtiaga in the York goal.

The Nine Stripes came within centimetres of doubling their lead with just five minutes to play, as Adonijah Reid was played in alone from just inside the Halifax half. Yesli came way out of his box to try and tackle him, but Reid flicked the ball over the keeper and broke in on net. With Yesli racing back, Reid played the ball across the box to Max Ferrari, who placed his shot low toward goal -- where Yesli managed to get down just in time to keep it out with a remarkable goal-line save.

York, however, finally put the match to bed in the 89th minute. Steffen Yeates stripped the ball from Halifax captain Andre Rampersad, and cut in on goal before sliding the ball past Yesli to make it 2-0.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

York United: Urtiaga; Ferrazzo, Sturing, Adekugbe, León, Botello; Reid (Voytsekhovskyy 85'), Yeates, Kibato, Ferrin (Higgins 89'); Altobelli (Ferrari 76')

Halifax Wanderers: Yesli; Pearlman, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow, Timoteo; Callegari, Johnston (Rampersad 86'); Bahamboula (Baï 65'), Probo (Biello 85'), Rea (Coimbra 74'); Telfer

Goals

29' -- Julian Altobelli (York United)
89' -- Steffen Yeates (York United)

Discipline

*12' -- Yellow: Riley Ferrazzo (York United)
*51' -- Yellow: Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
61' -- Yellow: Adam Pearlman (Halifax Wanderers)
86' -- Yellow: Diego Urtiaga (York United)