✍️ Join Ivan Sørensen again this week as we look at Halifax football clubs and how they are doing.
The Wanderers then
The showdown with Forge was, in many ways, a test of where the squad is at right now. Forge is a tough team to break down, even though it was a home game. They are in strong form at the moment, with no goals conceded in the competition until the Wanderers clash.
Things did not get off to a good start, with the team staring at a 0-2 game early in the second half.
A penalty kick allowed midfielder Isaiah Johnston to get a goal on the board and bring some hope back into the match, but this was shut down 10 minutes later when Hoce Massunda scored for Forge, making it 3-1 for the Wanderers' opponents.
Sartini was fairly harsh in the post-game interview, calling it the worst game of the season and pointing out both that the energy was lacking and that the plan was perhaps too complicated.
It is not all doom and gloom. Playing against Forge can often feel suffocating, but the stats tell a more balanced story. Halifax managed 11 shots to 15; when it came to shots on target, it was closer at 4 versus 5. Being a bit behind in possession is not a disaster either, though it can be difficult against the Hammers specifically, where counter-attacking opportunities are often not easy to exploit.
The match was a rather physical affair as well, with the two teams tallying up 31 fouls and 4 yellow cards. People have different opinions on physicality in the game, but fans do want to see a bit of a tussle on the pitch to show fighting spirit.
And hey, who else has scored against Forge this year?
The Tides then
If facing Forge is the big test in the CPL, then facing Toronto is probably the test of your mettle in the NSL. They won the Shield last year and are a team that rarely have a poor game. You either bring your best or you are in for a difficult afternoon on the pitch.
So, did the Tides bring their best? They certainly brought a team willing to get stuck in. The game was a constant back-and-forth that ultimately produced no goals for either side, but the Tides kept pace with Toronto shot for shot and corner for corner, with each team having their own moments of momentum.
The defence deserves a call-out here, with Sheyenne Allen putting in a heck of a shift, making firm tackles and even doing a bit of impromptu goalkeeping at one point. Julianne Vallerand also impressed with her pure energy. When you see a defender support the attack as much as she does, you know the work rate is impeccable.
At the end of the day, a point is a point, and a point is what the Tides brought back.
Current standings
The Wanderers remain in 5th place with 5 points, just a single point ahead of Vancouver and Ottawa and one point behind Quebec.
This week brings a break in the CPL, with the Wanderers set to play their opener in the Canadian Championship, where they will face Forge again in the first round of the competition. It is a straight knockout round, so if coach Vanni has any cards up his sleeve, now is the time to use them.
Over in the NSL, the Tides sit in second place after round 2. No losses on the books yet and a +2 goal difference, and it feels rather nice, doesn’t it? Montreal is ahead, with Toronto just behind (on goal difference only).
The ladies will take a rest this week, as they do not have another game until the 13th, when they will face Ottawa.
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