Despite red card, Wanderers go down fighting in home opener that showed signs of promise

It was a 70-minute exercise in determination, the sort of performance that merits grudging respect from supporters and opposition alike. But it was also a loss, the third in a row for a Halifax Wanderers squad that never lost two back-to-back all last season.

It’s safe to say things haven’t exactly gone as many anticipated for head coach Patrice Gheisar and the Wanderers. They find themselves at the bottom of the league table, one of only two clubs yet to register a point. Still, there are encouraging signs, even if they can’t be measured by wins or goals scored: despite the score line, Halifax’s match against Atlético Ottawa showcased a grit and willingness to compete that will serve them well as the season progresses.

And there’s no denying that the ejection of midfield maestro Lorenzo Callegari — so often the linchpin of Gheisar’s build up — in the 19th minute helped shape the outcome of Saturday’s match.

The Wanderers began their home opener with promise in front of a sold out crowd, testing Atlético Ottawa keeper Rayane Yesli early off a punchy Massimo Ferrin free-kick in the first 10-minutes. However, things took a turn when Callegari laid a high challenge on star signing Manny Aparicio, causing referee Ben Hoskins to reach immediately for a red card.

Down a man, Halifax shrunk into a 4-4-1 out of possession, defiantly holding their own until a late first half goal by striker Ruben del Campo — his first for the club — put the visitors up 1-0.

The Wanderers had their chances throughout the match, with defender Dan Nimick nearly equalizing just before the half off a sizzling header but it struck the crossbar.

Slowly, Carlos Gonzalez’s squad took over as the Wanderers flagged.

A moment of brilliance from Atlético Ottawa’s stars further sank the Wanderers in the 56th minute as defender Kris Twardek’s cross found an open Aparicio in the box. The 28-year old managed to volley the ball for a highlight reel finish, beating Halifax keeper Yann Fillion to the left side of the net. A 73rd minute cutback to Ballou Tabla, who made no mistake in scoring his first since his return to the nation’s capital, all but sealed the result for the visitors.

And yet, the Wanderers continued to press on, motivated to score their first goal of the season which they did thanks to Riley Ferrazzo, who got the Wanderers on the board. It was his first professional goal.

Speaking to reporters following the 3-1 loss, Gheisar said he wasn’t happy with the result but was pleased by his squad’s performance in the face of adversity.

“We’re very disappointed with the result at home, but can look at our stats, you can look at our morale, the kilometres we’re putting in, we’re involved in every game in one way or the other, so we can’t go away from that and change things, we just got to keep going, and we just need to concentrate more,” he said.

Looking at the statistics, Halifax ended with 11 shots to Ottawa’s 15 and registered 45 per cent possession; they created despite playing most of the match down a man. It’s a consolation of sorts but the players aren’t looking for excuses.

“We have to remain calm, but still feel that urgency that everyone is feeling right now, so that we can believe that we can do this, but still take things one game at a time,” said Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé to reporters. “We’ve got to work extra hard to correct those mistakes that we’re making, and keep believing as it’s still early in the season.”

Scoring their first goal of the season, in part, alleviates some of the pressures facing this Wanderers squad. Casting an eye to last year, Halifax is only one win away points-wise from their 2023 start.

But knowing that the group is gunning for silverware means there’s internal pressure to deliver in a year where the club retained a lot of key pieces. The time to show the quality of this group is now.

The Wanderers next play at home against CS Saint-Laurent.

From the Notebook:

1. In the moment, sitting in the press box, I thought Callegari’s red card harsh. I asked Gheisar post-match about his thoughts, not having the benefit of a replay. “If we were sure about it, we wouldn’t ask about it. So, the fact is, the question makes it a questionable call,” Gheisar said. “I think that’s a call you have to be 100 per cent about. I think Ottawa has improved some from last year. Halifax has improved since last year. Every team has improved. Has the officiating improved since last year? That’s the question I ask.” I think Gheisar’s comments are totally fair given the circumstances. However, having watched the play several times, I see why referee Ben Hoskins — who is from Nova Scotia — made the call. Context is important as Hoskins appeared to give Callegari a verbal warning only a few minutes before the Aparicio challenge. And once the Frenchman’s studs went up, if Hoskins deems it to be a dangerous play, it’s within his rights to dole out the red. It felt harsh but it’s up to the players, especially one with Callegari’s experience, not to give the referee reason to card him. I also get it from the player’s perspective as, coming back after a disappointing road trip, he’s excited to play in front of his home crowd. Players get hyped and I think it was a case of Callegari looking to get a good start, a touch of nerves and a questionable challenge that proved disastrous.
2. The shame is I thought Callegari was having his best game of the season to date. Although I appreciate experimenting with him as a No. 10 against Vancouver, it didn’t work as the Wanderers struggled to progress the ball through the midfield without him. Sitting further back on Saturday, Callegari was a bastion and I was preparing to settle in for a classic Atlético low block as the Wanderers tried to tug them apart. A Callegari scoop, after a heady defensive play, set up Ferrin’s free kick in what seemed a sign of things to come. And then, like one of my young cousins on an ice cream sugar high, it all came crashing down. Callegari finished the match with 19-minutes played and was perfect on his passing (13/13). As pointed out by Gheisar, his loss is not like losing other players. “Don’t forget it’s not the average person that got the right card. It was Lorenzo. He was instrumental in the first 20 minutes. Not only do we lose a player, we lost a key player. It was a double whammy,” he said. I’ve sent notes to ask about Callegari’s suspension but have yet to hear back.
3. Remember when I mentioned settling in for an Atlético low block? Well, that still happened despite Gonzalez’s squad being up a man. And it’s one of the reasons the Wanderers looked so dangerous until they ran out of steam: Atlético Ottawa’s game plan was to sit back, absorb pressure and hit on the counterattack. It worked for them but I have my doubts about their tactical vision long term. For my money, the 3-1 score line clouds the fact that Gonzalez hasn’t changed his strategy despite the wealth of talent at his disposal. Journalist Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic asked him post-match about his strategy, specifically around cutbacks, and Gonzalez was all smiles. “You see my face, no? I answer with that face,” he said. Interestingly, he also shared he wanted to get Yesli into the rotation, opting to sit veteran keeper Nathan Ingham.
4. A quick note about the Wanderers starting XI: this is a banged up squad. There are lessons from their month on the road, a time which saw almost every forward collect a knock at some point. It was a grind physically and it was also mentally tiring as players shuffled from plane to plane, hotel to hotel. Dan Nimick told me he had six different beds over the course of the road trip. And although travel is part of the game (it’s certainly one of the perks, too), I believe it’s cost the Wanderers in the early stages of the season as they wait for players to come back to 100 per cent fitness. Both Tiago Coimbra and Tomas Giraldo trained on their own on Friday; we know Ferrin, Aidan Daniels, Christian Volesky and Ryan Telfer all had one thing or another bothering them. Given they didn’t earn any points from their West Coast trip, I wonder if the Wanderers would plan a roving pre-season again. Interestingly, four out of the eight clubs in the league headed down to Mexico this year.
5. From a player perspective, it’s hard to have asked for a better effort from Gheisar’s starting XI. I commend everyone — from Telfer all the way back to Fillion — for a gutsy performance. They competed hard, clearly playing for pride in front of 6,500 fans who desperately wanted something to cheer about. I think it’s fair to say they certainly put on a show. Overall, I thought Telfer looked good up front, especially with his back to goal. He plays a very robust game, all strength and grit, and I think he’s best suited to a slow build up. I’m not sure he has the legs to play the poacher or target man like Volesky or Coimbra.
6. As mentioned previously, Gagnon-Laparé was the player chosen to face the dreaded media (we remain, as a group, cantankerous). Although he was asked about urgency, he was also happy to talk about his first match back at the Grounds in Wanderers’ blue. Here is a player who wanted to come back, was recently named an assistant captain and, after a bad play against Vancouver FC, looking to show his worth. I thought he more than did that on Saturday after coming on as a substitute. Gagnon-Laparé was deft with the ball and earned an assist on a beautiful diagonal into the box for Ferrazzo. Hopefully, the goal will give the rest of the team some breathing room; I think the veteran Gagnon-Laparé needed the redemption as well.
7. I am genuinely delighted for Ferrazzo to score his first professional goal. I wrote in the off-season that at 24-years old, Ferrazzo was one of the players who really needed to find his seat. He’s a skilled footballer, gifted with speed and smarts, but was always on the outside looking in last year. Largely, he’s been in the same position to start 2024 but Saturday’s marker is a tangible reward for all his hard work. He had his opportunities last year, including a crossbar in the playoff game versus Pacific, so I can only imagine how his phone must have blown up. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets the nod for Thursday’s Canadian Championship match.
8. Just a final note to say that Saturday was as magical a day as you can get. Halifax was alight with excitement; it was something you could feel walking through the city and the sunshine made it all the sweeter. It was a good day for football; I look forward to many more.

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers