Club claws its way back into playoff picture, sits one point ahead of ATO
There’s no place like home for the Halifax Wanderers.
After a record breaking rain storm postponed their match by a day, the Wanderers looked focused from the outset of Sunday’s tilt against Atlético Ottawa, a rare sunny patch greeting the nearly 6,000 Halifax faithful who made the trek to the Wanderers Ground.
And the Wanderers rewarded their fans with a solid performance to win 1-0, extending their unbeaten streak at home to five and leapfrogging Ottawa up the table and back into a playoff spot.
Sporting their white alternate kit, Halifax came to play and quickly established ball possession, forcing Ottawa on their back foot for most of the first half.
Halifax would score in the 23rd minute thanks to a fantastic finish from 22-year old Théo Collomb, who worked his way back into the starting XI for the first time since May 20.
Playing as a left winger, Collomb saw centre-back Daniel Nimick corral the ball with his head up and started a run. Nimick, who has showcased his elite passing ability already this year, pinpointed Collomb and delivered a beautiful 55 foot diagonal which landed perfectly in the box for the Frenchman, who volleyed it into goal.
Showcasing his defensive prowess, Nimick also blocked an attempt from Gabriel Antinoro in the 44th minute, Ottawa’s first shot attempt of the half.
Ultimately, the Wanderers suffocated Atlético’s attack to the point that head coach Carlos Gonzalez made a triple substitution in the 58th minute to try and change the trajectory of the match, including bringing on former Wanderer Samuel Salter for Rubén del Campo.
But Halifax head coach Patrice Gheisar made the change the Canadian football world has been waiting for in the 83rd minute, bringing on Canada international Doneil Henry, who made his Wanderers and CPL debut to an appreciative crowd.
Ottawa pushed to try and equalize — including a header from Salter in the 86th minute which was collected by Wanderers keeper Yann Fillion — but were unable to solve Halifax’s defence.
Although both clubs registered seven total shots by the end of play, the Wanderers dominated possession (60 per cent) on the night and dictated the pace of the match.
Speaking post-match, Gonzalez said he felt his club lacked pace in the opening half.
“We didn’t start as well into the game, I think that Halifax were with a spark that we didn’t have in those first 45 minutes,” he said. “In the second half I thought we were a little bit better than them, as they were in the first half, but we didn’t have the tools to break them and we didn’t feel comfortable enough in the field today.”
For their part, both Gheisar and Collomb noted the importance of the crowd support playing at the Wanderers Grounds, especially given the horrific flooding across Nova Scotia.
“Even after everything that happened in the city, everyone showed up to support for us,” said Collomb. “We had to give (that effort) back, and I think we did.”
Gheisar explained that his group are fortunate to have the opportunity to distract people, if only for a few hours, from the difficulties they’re facing.
“We’re lucky because we’re doing what we love but we have a chance to make people happier,” he said.
The Wanderers currently sit fifth on the league table with 22 points, one ahead of Atlético Ottawa but two behind York United, who they play July 30.
From the Notebook:
- Let’s get this out of the way: Daniel Nimick is a fantastic footballer and one of the best centre-backs in the CPL. Full stop. Now, I don’t want to toot my own horn but I predicted after the own goal against Cavalry that Nimick would have a chip on his shoulder against Ottawa. He proved me right, playing with an icy deliberateness which stifled Ottawa’s attack while he single-handedly opened up the match with a right-footed diagonal kissed by God. Defensively, he finished with two clearances, two blocked shots, an interception and a tackle while winning most of his duels. All in all, Nimick is a kid who has grown leaps and bounds since he showed up in Halifax back in March but he’s only just scratching the surface of his potential. We’re watching a star in the making.
- A quote from Gheisar on our legally-Labradorian which speaks volumes: “The kid is golden. Good feet, strong, great passer of the ball. I really, really, really do believe with Doneil’s mentorship and a couple of bounces, Dan could be a guy who we could see in the 2026 rotation for the Canadian national team.” Having spent a good chunk of time interviewing Gheisar, he isn’t just saying this on a whim. He’s both smart and passionate, meaning he is careful (and tactical) in both his praise and criticism. So post-match, I think Gheisar is letting the world know Nimick is the real deal because he believes it while also telling his player that his efforts, in the wake of the Cavalry gaff, are seen.
- One last Nimick note. There’s been a lot of talk about Gheisar’s sphere of influence with the Henry signing and rightly so. Through his connections with players like Alistair Johnston and Dayne St. Clair, Henry liked what he heard about his future coach and signed on the dotted line; Gheisar, the person, is a known and trusted entity in the Canadian football landscape. Well, post-match, Gheisar made note of something which I think further highlights his footballing credentials. While talking about Nimick, he alluded to the work he did in December and January on the recruitment end to get the players he wanted. And Nimick was someone he pushed for immediately, one of the first players he contacted when he was hired. In summary: “Dan is exactly what I thought he was when we signed him.” That’s what we call insider knowledge.
- I wrote in my mid-season report cards that Collomb really needed to prove himself in training to get a sniff at the starting XI. Lo and behold, he got himself a start but on the left wing as Massimo Ferrin has solidified himself as the coach’s centre forward of choice. Collomb did not disappoint, scoring a potential goal of the year candidate while showcasing his passing ability, a skill that was unheralded until now. “I was excited to start because it’s been a while for me,” he said post-match. “I want to give them no choice but to play me.” With yesterday’s goal, Collomb now leads the squad with four goals in league play.
- There was a lot of interesting things tactically going on for Halifax so it’s no wonder Gonzalez and his squad never got a handle on the match; with their movement and substitutions, the Wanderers were mercurial in their form. Firstly, Collomb on the left was a change up but the midfield was a tableau of constant motion with Callum Watson and Aidan Daniels tucking in as play dictated while Riley Ferrazzo played down the right side of the pitch. With substitutions, Ferrin slotted back to the left while João Morelli came forward. Halifax always maintained a back three for their defensive line and Lorenzo Callegari as a safety but otherwise, they were as unpredictable as a football club can play.
- Given the many strong individual performances, I thought it was interesting to note Gheisar’s man of the match was Wesley Timoteo. It’s been four matches now that Timoteo, a natural winger, has slotted in as a left-back. He’s been quietly efficient in his role but I was amongst the crowd who thought adding Henry meant the 23-year old Montrealer might be bound for the bench. Judging by Gheisar’s comments, I don’t think that’s likely any time soon. Timoteo finished the match with two clearances, two interceptions, four tackles and won five of his eight duels.
- Speaking of duels, given Ottawa’s recent form, I thought this match would be decided by which midfield dictated play. More specifically, in my mind, I had boiled it down to testing Callegari versus former La Liga man Alberto Zapater, Atlético Ottawa’s 38-year old transfer. I was excited to watch Zapater in depth as his arrival has been praised by ATO fans and coincided with their recent winning streak. However, I don’t think there’s any doubt who won this fight. Callegari was sublime and his mobility meant that he had 91 touches and 80 accurate passes, puncturing Ottawa’s lines at will. Although Zapater’s 43 passes are nothing to sneeze at, he lacked the game breaking ability Callegari possesses. Obviously, it’s only one match but speaks to Callegari’s pedigree.
- I’d be mistaken if I didn’t acknowledge Henry’s debut. Although he logged only a dozen or so minutes on the pitch, the image of him running along the Grounds with a flag in hand speaks volumes about his commitment to the here and now. The crowd greeted him warmly and it was nice to see the 30-year old, who has already accomplished so much in his career, repay the favour.
Cover Photo Credit: James Bennett / Halifax Wanderers FC
wanderersnotebook.ca 