York United has not won a home opener in its history. And despite a bright start against Halifax Wanderers, the unwanted streak continued with a 2-1 loss at York Lions Stadium Sunday.
“We came out prepared mentally in the first half,” York coach Mauro Eustáquio said post-game. “We created lots of chances and we weren’t able to bury them. We kind of took our foot off the pedal in the second half, and they won one challenge, two challenges, we were never able to secure the ball up top and they grew with the game.”
York United starts well
Both teams went with the same lineups as last week and York started the game strong and the home team deployed their fluid attack along the wings.
Early chances by Riley Ferrazzo and Max Ferrari drew near-post saves by Halifax goalkeeper Rayane-Yuba Yesli. York found success playing on the left side through former Wanderers players Ferrazzo and Massimo Ferrin.
- Photo gallery: Halifax Wanderers come from behind to beat York United
With the freedom to run at defenders and play key passes off each other, they found first-half success in their dribbling ability and quick passes to break through the defensive line. The defensive press from York’s attacking trio of Ferrin, Adonijah Reid, and Gabriel Bitar forced defensive mistakes from Halifax and attacking opportunities.
In the 22nd minute, York’s attacking pressure and defensive presence paid off as a loose ball at the top of the box was picked up by Reid, who cleverly backheeled a pass into the path of Bitar who curled a beautiful shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner for his first goal for York United.
Loading ...After the goal, there were half-chances on either side of the field. Ferrin and Reid continued to penetrate Halifax’s defense and Ferrin found Reid in alone with the goalkeeper but his touch let him down. On the other end, an Olimpico attempt by Sean Rea was tipped out by Ivan Pavela and Lorenzo Callegari had a volley attempt that sailed over the goal. Halifax had another chance right at the end of the first half when Wesley Timóteo’s half shot off a throw-in was saved by Pavela.
At the end of the first half, York won a majority of their duels and dribbles and successfully entered Halifax’s final third many times. However, Halifax stayed patient, continued their own game, and looked to carry their momentum into the second half.
Halifax Wanderers come from behind to win
Early chances were just wide from Jason Bahamboula and Isaiah Johnston as Halifax looked to expose York’s defensive line. Ryan Telfer and Wesley Timoteo also stretched the defensive lines to open up space in behind. In the 53rd minute, Halifax found their equalizer with a free-kick from Giorgio Probo. His low curling shot was caressed into the box and ended up in the back of the net after a bounce and a late reaction from Pavela.
“That position is very weird because you never know if you have to cross or shoot it,” Probo said post-game, about the free-kick goal. “I was just making it difficult for the goalkeeper.”
Similar to the last game, Eustáquio looked to his bench for more energy bringing on Altobelli, Jimoh, and Kibato. York had a great chance at the top of the box as Bitar danced around defenders but he couldn’t finish the chance with his left foot. York did not look the same in the second half as they lacked their attacking energy, found their opportunities diminished, and their defensive structure continuously broken by Halifax.
Halifax found success off their bench with the substitutions of Tiago Coimbra and Yohan Baï. A minute after he was subbed on in the 81st minute, a through ball over the top from Kareem Sow into the path of Coimbra led to a one-on-one opportunity with Pavela. Coimbra calmly chipped the ball passed Pavela and he watched as the ball rolled into the bottom right corner with his first touch of the game to make it 2-1 for Halifax. Minutes later, Halifax’s other substitute, Baï, hit a rocket with his left foot from outside the box and forced Pavela to come up with the big save.
Things also got heated during the match as hard tackles from either side and missed calls from the referee led to pushing and shoving between the two teams leading to several bookings and team arguments. York had one last chance in the dying seconds but centre-back Thomas Meilleur Giguère made a crucial defensive block on Ferrari’s shot inside the box.
Asked about the switch in York’s performance in the second half, Bitar said post-game, “I don’t think too much changed, we were finding and creating chances. It was unlucky from the set piece and there were moments we needed to manage better. We have to take it and move on.”
Halifax Wanderers takes advantage of disappointing York United second half
Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar felt his side was able to manage the second half with a certain level of comfort.
“We felt that they weren’t pressing us, that they had a higher line, and we have threats like Probo that can play between the lines, and Telfer that can stretch the lines…It felt like a boxing match, we were jabbing and jabbing and just waiting for the uppercut.,” said Gheiser.
This was echoed by Probo who said, “We expected York to press but they didn’t. They sat in the middle and there was lots of space behind. We knew if we played in behind, we would test them. We’re fortunate that Thiago is very fast.”
York United will look to bounce back next weekend, when they travel to the nation’s capital to face Atlético Ottawa on Saturday, April 19. Halifax host Pacific FC the same day.
