Final Score: York United FC 2-0 Halifax Wanderers FC |
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Match in a minute or less
York United claimed a resounding win in Québec City on Saturday evening, as they beat the Halifax Wanderers 2-0 at Stade TELUS-Université Laval in the CPL On Tour match. After a strong start for the Nine Stripes, Julian Altobelli opened the scoring in the first half, finishing a gorgeous cross from Orlando Botello. In the second half, York resisted several waves of Halifax attack and ultimately found an insurance goal, as Steffen Yeates stole the ball off Andre Rampersad and slotted home to give York a huge 2-0 win -- their second clean sheet victory in a row.
Three Observations
Altobelli adds to ledger as York soar to confidence-boosting win
Even at this early stage of the season, there's little left to be said about how effective Julian Altobelli has been up front for York this season. The club has played 10 games in all competitions now, and he's only failed to score in two of them. With seven CPL goals in nine matches, he's already scored over half the total that won Tobias Warschewski the Golden Boot last year, and he has only played about a third of the 2025 season.
The most impressive thing about Altobelli, then, is his consistency. Few (if any) strikers in CPL history have been able to execute at a rate like he has been. He has a remarkable sharpness in front of goal; Altobelli seems never to waste a good chance, and he has a deadly ability to bury one-touch finishes.
Again on Saturday, it was Altobelli again leading the charge in a York win. The Nine Stripes have won three CPL games now, and Altobelli has scored the winner in each of them.
Two weeks ago, the Nine Stripes were a team mired in frustration, as losses seemed to be piling up despite bright starts and scoring first on a regular basis. Now though, they've strung together two consecutive clean sheet wins and find themselves in a patch of confidence.
York came into this game well aware that they wouldn't be favoured by the crowd, and that they'd be in tough against a Halifax side sniffing at the top of the table. They thus delivered an impressive all-around performance, and made a strong statement by being the better side on the night.
Québec City answers the call as thousands brave the elements on monumental night
The premise of a CPL On Tour match is to bring the league to new communities across Canada, and gauge their appetite for professional soccer. Québec City, in outstanding fashion, answered the call on Saturday (and, frankly, throughout the week leading up to the game).
Despite torrential rain and howling wind, well over 7,000 rain gear-clad fans were on hand at Stade TELUS-Université Laval, and it was clear that no conditions would've kept them away from the first ever professional soccer game in the city. The crowd largely adopted Halifax as their preferred side; partial credit may be due to the healthy contingent of Privateers 1882 members who made the trip from the Maritimes, as well as the abundant friends and family of the Wanderers' many Québécois players. Still, there were at least as many Wanderers jerseys as Paris Saint-Germain shirts in the crowd.
On the pitch, the weather may have had an effect in the early stages, as the two sides adjusted to the slick pitch, but the match grew into an entertaining, back-and-forth affair. York were full value for their first-half lead, working hard to advance the ball and play direct. Meanwhile, Halifax likewise represented their own style of football well, with attackers like Sean Rea free to take on defenders and go looking for space in the final third -- although they did find it difficult to open York up.
Ultimately, Saturday night was a brilliant testament to the soccer community in Québec, and to how much passion there is for the sport in this area. It was an engaged crowd, reacting loudly to any key moment of the game; the biggest cheer by far was for Rayane Yesli's miraculous goal-line save just moments after missing a tackle 15 yards outside of his penalty area.
Those in attendance on Saturday will go home a little damp, and a little cold, but hopefully entertained, with fond memories of experiencing Canadian professional soccer in their city -- and with fervent hope for it to return one day with a team of their own.
Tough night for Wanderers as attack can't connect
This was a difficult match for the Halifax attack, who found themselves facing an uphill battle after starting the game on the back foot and then conceding on a quick transitional play.
After York took the lead, the Wanderers found it very difficult to get into an attacking rhythm; even though they had more and more of the ball and tested the York defence, they couldn't quite connect as well as they normally do.
Credit is certainly due to the York defence, which became effectively compact and took away any space in the box. Every since Elijah Adekugbe stepped into the back three from midfield a few weeks ago, they've been very solid defensively. It was a prudent decision to sit back more after taking the lead, because the slick pitch and rainy conditions made it particularly difficult for Halifax to play at the quick tempo they usually like.
Patrice Gheisar and co. surely won't be overly worried by the result, especially because there were stretches where they looked a lot like their dangerous selves, but couldn't find the space for one decisive pass in the penalty area. That's down to a variety of circumstances; York packed the box to take away those lanes, and the conditions made it hard to take a good first touch.
It just wasn't the Wanderers' night; now, they'll need to refocus and return to regularly scheduled service when they visit Forge next weekend.
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Elijah Adekugbe, York United
Wearing the armband for the Nine Stripes, Adekugbe was an excellent leader in the middle of York's back three. He was almost spotless with his distribution, attempting a team-high 60 passes and missing just three of them, and he was critical to York's organization and defensive effort.
What’s next?
Both these sides will be on the road again next weekend on Sunday, June 8. Halifax will be in Hamilton to play Forge FC (3:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. AT), while York head to Alberta to play Cavalry FC (4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET).
Watch all CPL matches live on OneSoccer. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.
