After a fourth place finish in the Spring Season, HFX Wanderers FC begin the Fall Season of the Canadian Premier League’s (CPL) inaugural campaign with a 1-0 clean sheet over York9 FC.
Since finishing the Spring Season with a loss in Edmonton, the Wanderers knew it was crucial to begin the new campaign off with a victory.
One thing we learned in the Spring Season was that every point matters. Fourth through seventh place were separated by a mere five points, while three clubs were tied in points and goal differences were separated by one goal each.
Cavalry FC and Forge FC were far ahead of the rest of the competition, with the only two sides in positive goal differential amassed 24 and 19 points, respectively.
HFX Wanderers FC kicked off the Fall Season in front of an over capacity home crowd of 6,244.
Looking for a fresh start after finishing last in the Spring Season, the first half saw a couple of promising scoring opportunities by York9 FC with chances from Manuel Aparicio and Ryan Telfer, but the Wanderers GK Jan-Michael Williams turned them aside.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, the Wanderers opening the scoring as Akeem Garcia buried a rebound in the 55th minute to put his side up by one.
This goal would prove to be the match winner as neither side could find the back of the net again before the final whistle.
York9 FC’s Diyaeddine Abzi had the matches lone carded discipline with a yellow card in the 84th minute.
Garcia’s goal was his first of the Fall Season and fourth of the year.
HFX are back in action on Wednesday, July 10 for the Leg 1 in the third round of the 2019 Canadian Championship. The Wanderers will host the Ottawa Fury of the USL Championship.
To date in the Canadian Championship, the Wanderers have defeated the Vaughan Azzurri (Vaughan, Ont.) of League1 Ontario 3-3 on away goals, and the CPL’s Valour FC (Winnipeg, Man.) 4-1. The Fury have been awarded bye’s through the opening rounds.
The Wanderers return to league action on Saturday, July 13 against the reigning Spring Season Champion Cavalry FC on the Wanderers Grounds at 4:30 PM ADT.
North Atlantic Football 