September 2, 2023...Preview: Halifax Wanderers vs. York United - 2023 Match #89 (canpl.ca)
PREVIEW: Halifax Wanderers vs. York United — 2023 Match #89
2023-09-02
by MITCHELL TIERNEY, DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER (@MITCHELLTIERNEY)
2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #89
Halifax Wanderers vs. York United
September 4, 2023 at 3 p.m. AT/2 p.m. ET
Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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The last time that Halifax Wanderers hosted York United at the Wanderers Grounds, is a moment that Patrice Gheisar considers a turning
point in his club’s season. The Wanderers coach said that the humbling loss, 3-0, the worst Halifax have suffered all season, was
a key moment of motivation in his group’s recent run up the table.
Monday’s match could be a similarly critical juncture in their season, but one where a loss could only be viewed as a negative.
A York United victory would mean the Nine Stripes jumping them in the standings on the total wins tiebreaker, and could see Halifax fall
out of the playoff spots with just six matches remaining.
Halifax are currently in a four-club tie on 32 points, which goes from second place Pacific FC all the way to Forge FC in the fifth
and final playoff spot. York United are three points behind on 29, but have played more matches than any other club in the league
with the exception of Forge.
RELATED: The road to 30: How Halifax made the Wanderers Grounds a fortress again
“[This match] is really important because we can tie them on points and put ourselves right back in the thick of it,” said York United
manager Martin Nash. “We are there, we are close, but a win would be massive, so it is a massive game. Now we have six cup finals left,
each game has to be treated like a cup final because they are all important games if we want to get into the playoffs.”
While three points in this match would be absolutely huge for both sides, historically, Labour Day Monday in Halifax has seen
the points split. All three matches that have been played on the holiday at the Wanderers Ground have ended in a draw.
That includes what amounted to an instant classic between York and Halifax back in 2021, which ended 3-3 — with four goals coming
inside the last ten minutes plus stoppage time.
João Morelli scored a pair of penalties that day, and will be looking to continue his dominance against the Nine Stripes on Monday.
The Brazilian has now scored five goals against York, including in their last meeting on July 30.
That match also got quite heated at the end, with Matthew Baldisimo being shown a red card for his part in a scuffle in stoppage
time. With the importance of Monday’s match, both sides would do well to keep those emotions in check as best they can. Halifax
won that match 2-0, meaning the season series is essentially split between the two sides with a win each and a 2-2 draw at York
Lions Stadium on June 21.
York got some big news on the suspension front this week, as Osaze De Rosario was back in training with York United this week,
and while he is still getting up to match fitness is available for Monday’s match.
Halifax, on the other hand, will be without starting central defender Cale Loughrey through suspension as a result of yellow
card accumulation, which will be a key absence. The 22-year-old Loughrey has started all but one match alongside Daniel Nimick
in defence this season.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
Is it finally time for Doneil Henry’s first start?: Since his highly celebrated arrival in Halifax in July, Canadian
international central defender Doneil Henry has come off the bench in all six of his appearances for the club this season
— amounting to just 102 minutes. Part of that has been his fitness, which the player revealed wasn’t quite up to standard
when he first joined the group. However, a big part of that has been the undroppable play of young centre-back pairing
Cale Loughrey and Dan Nimick. The duo have been central to Halifax allowing a league-low 22 goals this season. With Loughrey
suspended on Monday, however, this could finally be the chance for 30-year-old Henry to make his first start for the club.
It could hardly come in a more important match, as this truly is a six-pointer for the club, but his experience in high-pressure
environments could not only prove critical for this young team against York on Monday, but in the pressure-packed next few weeks
for the club as well.
Osaze De Rosario’s return could prove crucial for York down the stretch: York United got a welcome boost this week as striker
Osaze De Rosario returned to training, and should be available for Monday’s match. While it might take him a little bit of time
to get back to full match fitness, seeing as he hasn’t been able to train with the group for a month, having an option like him
even off the bench will add a key dimension to the Nine Stripes attack. After finishing second in last year’s Golden Boot race,
2023 hasn’t exactly gone to play for De Rosario, even when he was available for action, he has scored just three times this year,
despite 4.97 expected goals and eight big chances missed. Nash has been happy with the work the player has been putting in while
away, however, and knows he could be a key figure down the stretch. “He’s looked good, he was working hard with his dad
I believe just to keep himself going and he had to do it on his own and he has come in looked pretty sharp in training and has
a good attitude so it has been great to see in the first few sessions of the week,” said Nash.
York looking to set up U-21 players for success: Monday’s match pits the two sides with the fewest U-21 minutes accumulated
in the league so far this season, York still needs 915 minutes (just under 153 per match) over the last six matches, while Halifax
require an additional 880 (just over 125 per match) over their remaining seven matches. For Nash, this has meant a lot of added
decision lately, when to bring players on, and importantly how to put them in positions to be successful on the pitch. For example,
if young goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario is playing, making sure he is protected by a veteran presence in defence, or having cover
for Trivine Esprit as he has played various positions across the park. “You always want to play young players, it is always great,
you want them to be ready and not putting them in positions or circumstances that it is going to be difficult for them,” said Nash,
later adding,” it has been interesting getting the guys in, I think they have all done well, they have all worked hard and they
are deserving of getting a chance. It’s on them when they get in to take it.”
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Halifax Wanderers (4-3-3): Fillion; Fernandez, Nimick, Henry, Timoteo; Omar, Callegari, Giraldo; Morelli, Perruzza, Ferrin
York United (4-2-3-1): A. De Rosario; Gee, Mourdoukoutas, Abatneh, Ferrari; Baldisimo, Gagnon-Laparé; Bayiha, Babouli, Ricci; Wright
ALL-TIME SERIES
York United wins: 4 || Halifax Wanderers wins: 5 || Draws: 9
Last meeting:
July 30, 2023 — York United 0-2 Halifax Wanderers
KEY QUOTES
“We are the best home team that plays the best away team, York has the best away record. So it will not be an easy game. It is a game
that [three months] ago we lost really badly. ” — Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar
“The guys know the position we are in and what we need. It is a great environment and everyone in the league wants to go play
in those environments every week. ” — York United head coach Martin Nash
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