The Halifax Wanderers climbed back into a playoff spot on Sunday, beating Atlético Ottawa 1-0 on a stunning first half goal from Théo Collomb to win at home for the club-record fifth match in a row.
The game started with both teams putting pressure on each other defensively, but no shots between them, until the home side opened the scoring on a brilliant goal that re-ignited the crowd. After receiving the ball near the halfway line, Dan Nimick played an inch-perfect pass all the way into the penalty area, right to Théo Collomb.
In full stride to get to the ball, Collomb volleyed the ball, off the far post and into the bottom right corner to give his side the lead with the match’s first shot.
Pure class 🥂
What a stunning ball from Dan Nimick and a brilliant volley from Théo Collomb!@HFXWanderersFC go in front at home 🔥
📺: @onesoccer
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 23, 2023
Collomb nearly played provider himself later in the half, curling a dangerous cross into the box. It found Riley Ferrazzo, who made a great run into the box, but Ferrazzo couldn’t keep his redirection down, and it went high over the bar from a couple of yards out.
Ottawa’s first opportunity of the match came in the 44th minute, as Gabriel Antinoro took Ottawa’s first shot attempt of the first half. With a couple of defenders in front of him, Antinoro attempted a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but Nimick slid in front of it to block it. Ollie Bassett came close in stoppage time as well, creating a bit of space for himself with a sharp turn in the box and getting a shot away with his left foot. He couldn’t keep his effort down, however, and it went just over the bar with the final chance of the first 45.
The first shot on goal from the visitors came in the 56th minute. Malcolm Shaw got a shot away with his left foot from inside the box, but Yann Fillion did well to get down and make the stop at his near post.
Callum Watson had Halifax’s first shot of the second half about ten minutes after Shaw’s, but he couldn’t keep his effort down — watching it sail well over the crossbar from outside the penalty area. Moments after that, an attempt from Noah Verhoeven from a similar position met the same fate, ending up in the stands.
Ferrazzo had another scoring opportunity with about 15 minutes left of the 90, making a run into the box and getting onto a low cross toward the back post. Joao Morelli did well to draw in a couple of defenders and play the ball out wide to Zach Fernandez, who played the ball across the box, but Ferrazzo got under the ball and was unable to get it on target, sending it high and wide.
The Wanderers fans were ignited for perhaps their loudest ovation of the match, as Canadian international defender Doneil Henry checked into the match for his Canadian Premier League debut. After playing in three continents and nearly 50 times for Canada thus far in his career, the 30-year-old joined the club this past week, and played the last eight minutes or so, plus stoppage time to help Halifax see out the victory and confirm the three points.
Ottawa hit the target again in the 86th minute as former Wanderers forward Sam Salter headed the ball toward Yann Fillion, but the Halifax netminder pounced on the ball to keep his clean sheet intact.
With the win, their fifth in a row at home, Halifax jump over Atlético Ottawa in the CPL standings, up into fourth place. Ottawa hang onto the fifth and final playoff spot for now, with two teams chasing them (York United and Valour FC) set to play against each other later on Sunday.
BOX SCORE
Goals
24′ — Théo Collomb (Halifax Wanderers)
Discipline
54′ — Yellow: Carl Haworth (Atlético Ottawa)
71′ — Yellow: Karl Ouimette (Atlético Ottawa)
