Final Report
Wanderers settle for 1-1 draw at Forge in feisty Canadian Premier League
Aug. 20, 2023, HFX Wanderers defender Dan Nimick tries to elude a Forge attacker during Canadian Premier League action Saturday evening in Hamilton, Ont. Nimick scored the Wanderers’ lone goal in a 1-1 draw. – CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUEHFX Wanderers defender Dan Nimick tries to elude a Forge attacker during Canadian Premier League action Saturday evening in Hamilton, Ont. Nimick scored the Wanderers’ lone goal in a 1-1 draw. – Canadian Premier LeagueHere’s what to watch with tropical storm Franklin this weekend, next week | SaltWirePlay: Here’s what to watch with tropical storm Franklin this weekend, next week | SaltWireWatch onThe HFX Wanderers had a road victory snatched from their hands when Beni Badibanga scored in the 79th minute to lift Forge FC to a 1-1 draw in a feisty Canadian Premier League matchup Saturday evening in Hamilton, Ont.The Wanderers still earned a valuable point in the CPL table in a tight race for playoff positioning. The Halifax side (7-5-8) is in fifth place with 29 points, one back of fourth-place Cavalry FC. The top five clubs at season’s end advance to the post-season. Pacific FC leads with 32 points, followed by Atletico Ottawa and Forge with 31 apiece.With the logjam atop the standings, Saturday’s match had a playoff-like atmosphere and that was not lost on Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar.“If you prepare yourself for the big test every day, if you train like it’s a game and you take every game like it’s a playoff game, when the playoff game actually does come you don’t feel the nerves and anxiety,” Gheisar said in a post-match news conference.“I said today, ‘this is a playoff game on the road. Next weekend will be a playoff game at home.’ These are the games we’ve got to make count. For me, if this is a playoff game, I’m happy going on the road and taking a point going back to our house.”Defender Dan Nimick opened the scoring for the Wanderers on a penalty kick in the 29th minute after Jordan Perruzza was hauled down by Forge defender Manjrekar James.The lead held for 50 minutes. Forge won a free kick and Badibanga fired a perfect shot from long range over the Wanderers’ wall and inside the near post.A half-dozen yellow cards were handed out in the match, including four to the Wanderers.The Wanderers return home for their next match, Saturday at 4 p.m. against visiting Valour FC.It has been our privilege to have the trust and support of our East Coast communities for the last 200 years. Our SaltWire team is always watching out for the place we call home. Our 100 journalists strive to inform and improve our East Coast communities by delivering impartial, high-impact, local journalism that provokes thought and action. Please consider joining us in this mission by becoming a member of the SaltWire Network and helping to make our communities better.Click here for information on becoming a memberClick here to download the SaltWire appShare story:facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonlinkedin sharing buttonemail sharing buttoncopy sharing buttonsharethis sharing buttonHFX Wanderers’ Joao Morelli shapes his hands into a heart for his wife and child in the stands at the Wanderers Grounds after scoring the first goal of Saturday’s Canadian Premier League match against Vancouver FC. – Trevor MacMillan / Canadian Premier LeagueHome is where the heart is: After nearly two years, Wanderers star Morelli scores first goals in Halifax in 3-0 winHFX Wanderers supporters at the Wanderers Grounds celebrate a goal by the home club during a Canadian Premier League match in 2021. The Wanderers’ home pitch could be home to both a men’s and women’s League1 Atlantic team next season. – Ryan Taplin / The Chronicle Herald HFX Wanderers to launch women’s semi-pro team in new League1 Atlantic circuitJordan Perruzza of Toronto FC reacts after a missed scoring opportunity during the second half of a July 26 match against New York City FC at Red Bull Arena. The Canadian forward has been loaned by the MLS club to the HFX Wanderers for the remainder of the 2023 CPL season. – Vincent Carchietta / USA Today SportsHFX Wanderers acquire forward Jordan Perruza.
