PREVIEW: Halifax Wanderers FC vs. Pacific FC | CPL Match #93

The Canadian Premier League’s two coastal clubs face off at the historic Wanderers Grounds on Saturday as Pacific FC, who sit seventh on the table with 21 points, look to keep their playoff hopes alive versus Halifax Wanderers FC.

Coincidentally, it’s the Wanderers who Pacific are chasing as the East Coast club fell to fifth on the table — they currently have 32 points — following a disappointing 3-1 loss to Cavalry FC last weekend. Both sides will be fighting to collect three crucial points as the CPL regular season winds down, adding an air of urgency to Saturday’s match as head coaches Patrice Gheisar and James Merriman look to reach their respective goals.

Pacific enter the weekend fresh off an emotional, last-gasp draw at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. Defender Aly Ndom’s goal in added time gave his club an important point but also highlighted Pacific’s lack of finishing, which has dogged them throughout the season, in a match they needed a result from. But between the club’s five-match winless drought, the memorable Salish Sea Derby at Royal Athletic Park and news that SixFive Sports & Entertainment had put Pacific up for sale, it’s been anything but smooth sailing for the Tridents recently.

Still, Merriman told media in his pre-match availability he feels his players are focused on the task at hand. He added the mood in the dressing room is good, saying the group knows what they need to do to give themselves a chance to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive. Saturday’s match, he said, is another must-win but so have many of their matches over the last few weeks. He stressed his sides’ willingness to take more risks as a key to victory at the Wanderers Grounds as they’ve scored only three goals in their last four matches and their 24 goals scored is the lowest in the league.

A loss would all but eliminate Pacific from playoff contention.

The Wanderers, conversely, are looking to claw their way back up to third on the table, having dropped their last two matches against Forge FC and Cavalry. They enter Saturday having been exposed by Cavalry defensively but were missing several key attacking players, including U-21 striker Tiago Coimbra and Jason Bahamboula, and will be looking to return to their winning-ways at home. They’ve won six of their 11 matches at the Wanderers Grounds.

Gheisar and his players will be looking to close the gap as four points separates them and Cavalry while a single point is the difference between them and York United FC. Speaking pre-match, Gheisar said the energy in training has been good and that there’s a little added pressure to these final matches, especially with playoff implications on the line.The Wanderers have scored 10 goals across their last four matches but have only one goal in their last two tilts, showcasing their streakiness this season.

Both sides will be dealing with injuries and suspensions as Pacific’s Ndom will miss Saturday for yellow card accumulation. Merriman said both Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt and Daniel De Pauli were ruled out due to injury. Meanwhile, Gheisar noted both Coimbra and defender Adam Pearlman trained on Friday but he did not say they were going to play. The club confirmed Bahamboula will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• Lorenzo Callegari returns from yellow card suspension: It’s safe to say that the Wanderers are not the same team with Lorenzo Callegari out of the starting XI. The squad’s passing and pace of play was greatly reduced versus Cavalry without their French talisman, especially when you consider the former Paris Saint-Germain product routinely serves as Halifax’s release valve. Look for Callegari to return alongside Isaiah Johnston in midfield versus Pacific.

• Who steps up for Aly Ndom?: Aly Ndom has been a good news story for Pacific this year, leading the Tridents with six goals across all competitions. However, someone will have to step up as the veteran French defender misses Saturday due to yellow card accumulation. Although Pacific’s backline has been thin this year due to injury and U-Sports players returning to school, Merriman did praise newcomer Matthew Baldisimo’s reps as a defender in recent matches. Can the 27-year old help to keep Halifax off the scoresheet?

• Do-or-die for Pacific FC: Merriman noted pre-match that his club’s had several opportunities to get better results and propel themselves in their playoff race but have not delivered. Now, they find themselves with five matches remaining in their season and the need to win every one to keep their playoff dreams, however tenuous, alive. A win on Saturday keeps their hopes alight.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Pacific FC: Melvin; Chung, Baldisimo, Greco-Taylor, Mukumbilwa; Young, Daniels; Heard, Bustos, Zanatta; Díaz

Halifax Wanderers FC: Yesli; Alphonse, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow; Pearlman, Callegari, Johnston, Timoteo; Dias, Rea; Telfer

ALL-TIME SERIES

Pacific wins: 11 | Wanderers wins: 6 | Draws: 9

LAST MEETING

August 16, 2025 — Pacific FC 2-2 Halifax Wanderers FC

KEY QUOTES

“Too many games have come and gone this season where we feel we could’ve done a bit more. Maybe last match, as well, we could’ve pushed a bit more and taken maximum points so tomorrow we know is a day we need to show up from the beginning, put everything into the game, and move forward from there.” — Pacific FC head coach James Merriman