Trinidad and Tobago winger Ryan Telfer netted his first goal of the season, but it was in a losing effort as his Halifax Wanderers FC was edged 4-3 by Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League at Starlight Stadium on Sunday.
Despite trailing three times in this game, Pacific were able to equalise each time, before eventually taking their first lead of the game in second-half stoppage time.
As a result, they were finally able to do what they needed to do to earn that elusive first win from there, surviving a late Wanderers onslaught to take home all three points, putting a dent in the Wanderers’ playoff ambitions as well, as Halifax could have cut the deficit between them and fourth-place Vancouver, who they beat last week, to four points after Vancouver fell to Cavalry FC on Saturday.
Instead, that gap remains at seven points, with the Wanderers yet to win back-to-back games in CPL play this season.
After a dangerous ball towards the back post from Jefferson Alphonse, Adonijah Reid did well to meet the cross and nod it across the six-yard box, where it hit the leg of Pacific defender Diego Konincks as he jostled with Jason Bahamboula and rolled into the back of the net for the own goal after only three minutes.
Pacific would finally find that equaliser, as their pressure paid off in the 34th minute. After a sequence in which Pacific generated a bunch of half-chances, including a dangerous Ronan Kratt half-volley that was blocked by a Halifax defender, Yann Toualy managed to tee up Taras Gomulka for a dangerous shot, one that Gomulka stroked into the top corner to make it 1-1.
Halifax regained the lead in stunning style in the 53rd minute when Lorenzo Callegari would try a shot from distance, and he’d catch all of his attempt, firing a powerful shot that dipped just underneath the crossbar for a spectacular goal.
However, it would not take Pacific long to equalise as Toualy managed just to poke the ball past an onrushing goalkeeper Sinclair Astridge and into the path of Pacific full back Kadin Chung, who was then able to smash the ball home into an empty net from close range to make it 2-2.
Despite that blow, however, Halifax did well to respond with another goal in the 76th minute with Ryan Telfer collecting a free ball inside the box, and firing home to put his team ahead for the third time of the game.
Naturally, though, continuing this wild game, Pacific would somehow find a way to soon equalise, as they didn’t lie down despite conceding that third goal.
It woud start with a dangerous free kick from Lukas Browning Lagerfeldt, who sent a powerful shot into the crossbar, before his rebound bounced to a wide-open Konincks, who avenged his early own goal with a goal into the right net to make it 3-3.
Konincks was not done there either, as helped Pacific take their first lead of the game in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
This time, he would use his head to score, rising highest to meet a perfect free kick delivery from Mathias Vales, powering the ball home to put Pacific ahead 4-3.
From there, Pacific would hold onto their lead, doing what they needed to in order to see the result over the line.
