Wanderers clinch spot in CPL championship game

HFX Wanderers FC clinched a berth in the Canadian Premier League championship game on Tuesday.
By virtue of Forge FC beating Cavalry FC 1-0 in afternoon play, the Wanderers advanced even before taking the pitch for their evening game against Pacific FC. The Wanderers wound up losing 5-0 to Pacific but it had no impact on the big picture.
Forge (2-0-1) finished the group stage with seven points to earn the other spot in the final. Cavalry fell short of catching Halifax in points and Pacific had already been eliminated after dropping their first two games in group play.
Since the outcome against Pacific was inconsequential, Halifax coach Stephen Hart took advantage of the opportunity to rest most of key players and also get his bench some playing time.
"There were some big benefits," Hart said. "We said all along that a lot of this tournament was about 2021. If you say that, then you have to give some people some opportunities. This was a good game to do that because I knew that Pacific had a big point to prove. They wanted to come away with something and they showed it.
"They showed it in the first half with their ball speed, their ball movement and the way they went into every tackle. I think it was important for us to give those players a solid look that didn't get the time as the tournament progressed."
Forge was the CPL champion last year, while the Wanderers finished last in 2019 so they have the chance to go from worst to first. The teams played to 1-1 draws in their first two meetings at the Island Games.
"It's a fresh game," Hart said. "What happened in the past is really more for talk between fans. It's a final, there's always a possibility of losing and there's always a possibility of winning. Forge are a very, very good team. They are the defending champions and they will want to walk away with that. We are a team that nobody expected to be here and, from what I understand, a lot of the pundits have already written us off so it should be good."
Saturday's championship game is at 3 p.m. in Charlottetown and will be carried live on CBC and OneSoccer.
"What an incredible 39 days of soccer we have seen in Charlottetown so far. Today is a major moment for the Canadian Premier League, HFX Wanderers and Forge FC,” Canadian Premier League commissioner David Clanachan said in a news release. “Having a sequestered bubble final in our second year is not what our owners, players, fans or supporters expected for 2020. We are incredibly proud of all eight of our clubs, their commitment to the Island Games and the incredible calibre of soccer we have seen this season.
"We are extremely grateful for the hard work and support from the province of Prince Edward Island, the city of Charlottetown and all those involved in helping bring the Island Games to fruition. Having an Atlantic team in the mix is exciting for our new Island fans and I am looking forward to an incredible Final match on Saturday."
Marco Bustos scored twice for Pacific in the win and Terran Campball, Victor Blasco and Alejandro Diaz Liceaga had one goal each.