2025 CPL Regular Season — Match #73
Pacific FC vs. Halifax Wanderers
August 16 at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET
Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia
Live: OneSoccer // Tickets available here
An almost must-win game for Pacific FC kicks off the action in matchweek 19, as the Tridents host the Halifax Wanderers at Starlight Stadium on Saturday evening.
Pacific, currently in sixth place but on a two-game winning streak, are staring up the table at Halifax, who occupy the fifth and final playoff spot with a seven-point lead over the west coast club. So, a win on Saturday for Pacific would bring them closer within reach and give them a good chance to fight for a postseason berth over the last few weeks of the season.
A Halifax victory, however, would stretch the gap to 10 points and all but doom Pacific.
The Wanderers come into Saturday's match keen on fixing their own form, now winless in their last five matches. They had lost four straight until they took on Cavalry last Saturday, when they settled for a 0-0 draw in Calgary.
Still, Patrice Gheisar's side is looking up the table more than down; with 25 points, they're level with York United and just one behind Cavalry, so they could climb as high as third if results go their way this weekend.
Meanwhile, Pacific have won two in a row, including a dramatic Salish Sea Derby win over Vancouver FC last weekend and a 1-0 triumph over Cavalry the week before. They still have a considerable mountain to climb to get back into the playoff picture, but there's a newfound belief among James Merriman's team.
These sides last met about a month ago, and Pacific won that won 3-2 thanks to a Yann Toualy hat trick. The Wanderers won the prior encounter, back in April in Halifax, so the two sides have proven they're each capable of breaking down the other.
In terms of availability, expect largely healthy squads with a couple of absences. For the Wanderers, coach Patrice Gheisar mentioned that Nassim Mekideche remains about a week away from returning, but the good news is that Julian Dunn is finally fit to contribute, after appearing in the matchday 18 last week for the first time all season. The club also confirmed on Friday that Giorgio Probo has departed the club by mutual consent.
Pacific, meanwhile, will have a few lineup questions to consider, particularly with U SPORTS players Eric Lajeunesse and Fin Tugwell returning to university this week.
With just 10 games left for each team, starting with this one, the margin for error is becoming slim. Can Pacific keep their playoff hopes alive? Or can the Wanderers solidify their own spot, and start pushing further up the standings?
3 THINGS TO WATCH
- Pacific need Díaz-led attack to keep rolling: Last weekend, Alejandro Díaz re-introduced himself to Pacific fans with a brace against his former club Vancouver. The Mexican striker himself looked excellent at the spear of Pacific's attack, but so did his teammates, particularly Dario Zanatta on the wing. James Merriman is certainly hoping that Díaz's arrival in the squad has lifted the attacking group as a whole; a player of Díaz's quality instantly makes the Tridents more dangerous going forward, and they'll be more motivated than ever to provide good service into the box for the striker. Goals haven't always been easy to come by for Pacific this year, but with Díaz in the mix they're a team that should consistently threaten.
- Halifax keen on another clean-sheet effort: Patrice Gheisar explained this week that he was extremely happy with his team's performance in Calgary, despite not being able to finish their chances in the 0-0 draw. What impressed him most was the level of intensity and defensive commitment that led the Wanderers to a clean sheet on the road. So, Gheisar is challenging his team to do the same this weekend against Pacific; knowing the Tridents' attack is rounding into form, it's important that Halifax remain switched on. They dabbled with a back three formation against the Cavs, which they may turn to again this week; regardless, the number one priority for Gheisar's team has to be replicating that defensive solidity.
- Questions in defensive line for Pacific: After Lajeunesse and Tugwell returned to university, James Merriman has some tough questions to consider in his backline, both players having started in the back three for the last four games. It's unclear who Merriman might turn to now to play next to Aly Ndom in defence; the available personnel might mean a return to a two-centre-back system. However, Pacific did bring in some reinforcements recently, in the form of Matthew Baldisimo, Ahmad Mansour and Roshawn Juhmi. Mansour is a natural centre-back, and Baldisimo has experience at the position, so the summer signings may be incorporated very quickly into this Pacific side as a matter of necessity.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Pacific FC: Melvin; Chung, Ndom, Mansour, Greco-Taylor; Bustos, Browning-Lagerfeldt, Baldisimo, Heard; Zanatta, Díaz
Halifax Wanderers: Yesli; Pearlman, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow, Timoteo; Johnston, Callegari; Bahamboula, Rea, Telfer; Coimbra
ALL-TIME SERIES
Pacific wins: 11 || Halifax wins: 6 || Draws: 8
Last meeting:
July 11, 2025 -- Pacific 3-2 Halifax Wanderers
KEY QUOTES
"Playoffs have started early for us this season. Match to match now for the last couple of matches, this is the mentality we've taken. ... We know the table, we know the points, all these things, but we need to focus on ourselves. We need to keep building some consistency in the way we play, the way we attack, the way we defend, and we feel like we have in the last few weeks for sure, and the group is more together than it's ever been." — Pacific FC head coach James Merriman
"My job is to say it's just another game, but we know and all the guys know it's important. For us, it's about playing with the intensity we had against Cavalry, with that clean sheet commitment, and just finish our chances." — Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar