York will have a long four days ahead of them, but at least they’re moving on.

Wednesday night delivered yet another classic at Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, as the Nine Stripes prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Halifax, after full time came and went all-square at 2-2.

Tiago Coimbra’s first-half opener was levelled by Julian Altobelli late in the second half, before a severe weather delay brought the mood down. It then ratcheted up to the maximum, as Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and Shaan Hundal traded blows in the final seven minutes.

Kembo Kibato’s decisive penalty brought the night to its climax, as the following effort from Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé skied over the bar, sending the Nine Stripes on after six rounds.

Like their previous meetings, this knock-out match had all the hallmarks of knockout soccer from kick-off.

The expected chippiness was checked off just nine minutes in at the Grounds, the stands erupted as Coimbra was pulled down in the box.

The shouts were waved away by referee Sebastian Noshinravani, but not quickly forgotten by the home supporters, as Sean Rea was booked just four minutes later for a disputable foul on Max Ferrari.

Also scratched off the list, were the highlight reel-worthy attempts on goal, led off by a bicycle kick attempt from Coimbra. Coimbra met the ball perfectly, putting all hearts in mouths — before it landed firmly in the hands of York goalkeeper Diego Urtiaga.

York, who were firmly under pressure from the Wanderers, clawed back one chance before the end of the first half. Hundal and Altobelli, playing alongside each other for just the fifth time this season, linked up, only to be denied by a last-minute Jefferson Alphonse intervention.

But, it was the Wanderers who delivered the first blow. Coimbra would, after all, add to his 12-goal regular-season tally. Working together against York’s left flank, Rea and Adam Pearlman linked up to hang a cross into the York box.

All the striker had to do was meet it with his head to give Halifax just their 14th first-half goal this season — half of their second-half tally — and an all-important lead heading into the half.

GOAL ⚓️

It's TIAGO COIMBRA! 💥@HFXWanderersFC go up 1-0 over @YorkUtdFC at the stroke of Burnbrae Farms Eggstra Time 🥚 as Sean Rea picks out the perfect cross for a thundering header 🎯

🔴 Watch #CanPL PLAYOFFS on OneSoccer & TSN pic.twitter.com/496mRQZ8Df

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 22, 2025

It didn’t stop for Coimbra in the second half, either.

The striker once again had an overhead kick worldie denied, this time by the post. That came in the aftermath of a free-kick which stung the fingertips of Urtiaga and rang off the crossbar.

As time elapsed, the moments only became more frantic as each side chased a game-altering goal.

Altobelli had a near-chance cut out by Nassim Mekideche before he could reach the ball, while Pearlman had a shot from inside the box turned away by Urtiaga.

Even the usually sure-footed Elijah Adekugbe and Massimo Ferrin got their wires crossed in the 60th minute, allowing Coimbra a shot that went blazing over the bar and into the parking lot of the Museum of Natural History (probably).

It was best attacking foot forward for the Nine Stripes in the wake of those changes. They piled on both of their two big chances, stretching the small pitch at the Grounds as far as it would go.

And, it paid off.

Ten-goal striker Altobelli capitalized in the 86th minute to break hearts in The Kitchen, the Wanderers’ supporters section. A lane opened up after a blocked shot — just as the skies had earlier — for Altobelli to bend one into the back of the net.

GOAL 👑

JULIAN ALTOBELLI with the late equalizer 🤯@YorkUtdFC claw back into this #CanPL clash vs. @HFXWanderersFC as their star striker gets hot at the right time 🔥

🔴 Watch #CPLPlayoffs on OneSoccer & TSN pic.twitter.com/fvW6NhpM3M

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 23, 2025

Isaiah Johnston would have a chance to flip the script again, but the miss wide ensured 30 more minutes of playoff footy.

Or, well, so was the case for another 23 end-to-end minutes of extra time, until lightning struck in the distance. That meant at least a further 30-minute delay, or so everyone once again thought, until the players were brought back out of the changing rooms to continue, to some bemusement.

But, things are never straight forward. Just five minutes later, the players were once again sent down the tunnel, and this time, the delay stuck, lasting just over half an hour.

Still, the drama continued.

Two minutes off the kick-off, it was a career-defining goal for Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé. Yes, Gagnon-Laparé. The much-maligned midfielder, who had played just 70 minutes all season, who stung the fingertips of Urtiaga seconds after coming on, nodded home.

The roller-coaster didn’t stop there. Lightning struck twice — thankfully, not literally —- as Hundal made well on his earlier denial. In an almost-true literary tragedy, Gagnon-Laparé’s under-hit clearance rolled free for York to put back into the box and allow Hundal a moment of glory.

The moment will also deliver additional “confidence”, per Eustáquio after the match. Both strikers finally contributed alongside each other after "the moments not quite being right, and either being unavailable" earlier in the season.

GOAL 👑👑

ANOTHER LATE EQUALIZER for @YorkUtdFC 🤯

Shaan Hundal buries a spilled ball in the box as @HFXWanderersFC repeats late heartbreak – and we're off to penalties 🎯#CanPL | 🔴 Watch #CPLPlayoffs on OneSoccer & TSN pic.twitter.com/6qWA5Pr4ZM

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 23, 2025

So, off to penalties, it was. 

Again, the teams traded blows. Both teams had at least one taker miss from the spot; Lorenzo Callegari for Halifax, and Steffen Yeates for York. But it was Gagnon-Laparé who would end up being the unfortunate soul, seemingly selected unfairly by the football gods, firing his kick from 12 yards into the night sky. An unfitting night for what was so nearly redemption for himself, and for Halifax.

YORK UNITED ADVANCE ✅

Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare skies his spot kick... and that's the end of the 2025 #CanPL season for @HFXWanderersFC, as @YorkUtdFC win on penalties 🎯#CPLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/waIfvwBEDr

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 23, 2025

Though they move on, the journey gets no easier for York. They now travel to ATCO Field to take on Cavalry in the semi-final qualifier, taking on a match that will get them further towards a promised land that they desire to, but have never before progressed to. That match rolls on Sunday, October 26th, at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET.