| Final Score: Pacific FC 2-2 Halifax Wanderers FC Goalscorers: Chung 32', Daniels 45+2'; Mansour 18' (o.g.), Coimbra 30' Game of the 2025 season: 73 CPL Match: 668 |
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Match in a minute or less
Pacific FC clawed back from two goals down at home on Saturday against the Halifax Wanderers, as they managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against their opposite-coast rivals in Langford.
Halifax took an early lead as Pacific's Ahmad Mansour directed a cross into his own goal less than 20 minutes in. Tiago Coimbra added a second for the Wanderers shortly after, as Halifax rewarded themselves for some aggressive forward play.
The home side did not go down lightly, though; they clawed a goal back two minutes after Coimbra's, when Kadin Chung blasted one into the net. Just before halftime, Aidan Daniels found the back of the net with a long-distance free kick to equalize the contest, and neither side would score again from there.
Three Observations
Pacific dig deep for draw, can't find second-half edge for win
This match was arguably a must-win affair for Pacific FC, who entered the weekend seven points behind Halifax — and will end it in an identical situation.
The Tridents will be immensely disappointed with how they started this pivotal game; they conceded far too easily in the first half, and allowed a visiting Wanderers team to dictate far too much of the opening stages. For a moment, it looked as if Pacific were on their way to a disastrous home loss, which would have all but eliminated them from this year's playoff race.
With their backs against the wall, Pacific did not quit.
In fact, Halifax's second goal woke the home team up; Kadin Chung scored within two minutes, thanks in large part to Aidan Daniels' initiative to run through the attacking half with the ball, absorbing three defenders to open up a lane to pass to Chung.
"In these scenarios early on in the season we've kind of put our head down and tried to concede less, rather than maybe push forward," explained Daniels postmatch. "Going down 2-0 at home, it's always frustrating. The response from the group to keep pushing, no matter the circumstances, it's always a positive."
Daniels was excellent for Pacific in this match, helping bring his side to life at a point where their season hung by a thread.
It's not the win Pacific truly needed, but to fight back from two goals down is a sign of life that the club has been waiting for. Now, the challenge will be channelling that 10-minute surge into bigger performances over the next few weeks.
Wanderers frustrated by squandered lead after bright start
The Wanderers have been on the road for two weeks now, and head back home next weekend when they'll undoubtedly still be in a strong playoff position, but they'll leave Vancouver Island with a sour taste in their mouths.
They've now gone six consecutive games without a win, and after going up 2-0 in the first half this was arguably the closest they've gotten to taking three points for a while. So, it's a tough one to swallow for Halifax, who remain in a reasonably good position but did not advance their own objectives this week.
Head coach Patrice Gheisar was not particularly fazed postmatch, knowing that his side absolutely had to avoid defeat in this game. He pointed out that Pacific had been under more pressure in the game, and the draw leaves his team exactly where it started.
Halifax did, in the first 30 minutes of the game, look more like the attack-minded, dangerous team they were known to be earlier this season; they were ambitious with the ball, and created numerical advantages. Sean Rea, who had been quiet recently, was outstanding in this game, covering more ground than usual by venturing to the wide areas and playing crosses into the box.
The Wanderers were rewarded twice for just putting the ball into dangerous areas; the first time, they were fortunate to reap the benefits of an own goal, and the second time was a good Tiago Coimbra run, but on both occasions they pressed their advantage well.
Now though, they head home after two weeks on the road. Gheisar's side plays on Friday night against Valour at the Wanderers Grounds, and needs a win — not for the standings, because they remain fairly safe there, but for their own confidence and momentum. They're in a tight race with Cavalry and York United for third place, and can't afford to falter at home.
Pacific's makeshift defence struggles but improves in second half
Pacific weren't dealt an easy hand for this match, considering their situation in defence. They had been playing a 3-4-3 formation for the past month, and two of their back three — Eric Lajeunesse and Fin Tugwell — are now gone, having returned to university for the fall semester.
So, James Merriman had no choice but to try something new at the back, which may have been frustrating after Lajeunesse and Tugwell had become so effective for his side.
A late further curveball for Pacific was Aly Ndom picking up an injury in training, which meant they needed to play an entirely new defensive unit.
Merriman opted to stick with the back three to start this game, but two of his chosen centre-backs — Sean Young and Matthew Baldisimo — are natural midfielders, who can fill in at the position but aren't necessarily comfortable there.
Ahmad Mansour, meanwhile, made his club debut as the sole natural centre-back in the lineup. It was a difficult assignment for him, and it didn't take long for Halifax to play in a cross that deflected off him into the net.
"It's a big ask to get thrown into a match like that," Merriman said postgame. "We were preparing with Aly when Eric and Fin went back to school, but to lose Aly and ask Sean Young to drop into that position between Ahmad and Baldi.. It's Ahmad's debut in the CPL, and at home in front of our fans.
"There's pressure there, of course, and I thought all three handled themselved really well."
Pacific's problems this year have largely been up front rather than in the back, but this recent upheaval is a challenge they'll have to overcome in the final few weeks of the season.
The trio of Baldisimo, Young and Mansour was much better in the second half on Saturday than the first; Merriman needs them to be solid going forward if they're to be his back three for the remainder of the year.
What They Said
"The way Aidan Daniels drove through that space and broke through those lines and attacked with urgency showed the mentality and the response that we needed to come and get back in the match. Kadin as well, we know Kadin's character, his mentality; he's a winner. He's not happy with where we're at as a team right now and in our season, so he responded." — Pacific FC head coach James Merriman
"I'd hardly call this a catastrophe; we're exactly where we deserve to be because of our inability to finish chances and, at the moment, giving up goals." — Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Aidan Daniels, Pacific FC
Daniels was the main reason Pacific got anything out of this game, as he was the engineer of both their goals after going down 2-0. He drove through midfield to create Chung's goal after Halifax went up 2-0, and then he managed to place a free kick into the bottom corner just before halftime to put his side back on level footing.
What’s next?
The Wanderers are back in action next Friday, Aug. 22, when they host Valour FC in Halifax (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT). Pacific, meanwhile, head on the road and take on York United next Sunday, Aug. 24 (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT).
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