Match #14
HFX WANDERERS (2-4-6) vs VALOUR FC (3-1-9)
When: Thursday, July 18th, 5 p.m. CDT
Where: Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, N.S.
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all Canadian Premier League games live https://onesoccer.ca/
MATCH PREVIEW:
Crunch time for these two clubs as they push to move closer to the playoff pack before the postseason picture disappears on the horizon. Both sides are coming off long breaks, with Valour having last played on July 7th in a 1-nil home loss to Cavalry FC and Wanderers having fallen 2-1 to York United in Toronto on July 6th.
Despite the loss, Valour likes where they’re at as a club and believes results here in the next few days — including Sunday’s visit to the capital for a match against Atlético Ottawa — could breathe life into their season. Critical now is to start earning results, especially with nine of Valour’s last 12 matches to be played at Princess Auto Stadium.
Of note, Valour will be without left back Roberto Alarcon for the next three matches after he picked up a straight red in the loss to Cavalry and will also miss gritty midfielder Dante Campbell due to yellow-card accumulation. Expect Zach Sukunda to slide into Alarcon’s spot and Noah Verhoeven to move into the midfield.
THE OTHER GUYS:
3 Facts HFX Wanderers FC:
- Wanderers are playing their best football of the season after a poor start that saw them earn just one draw against five losses in their first six matches of the season. Since then the club is 2-3-1.
- Veteran attacker Ryan Telfer leads the squad with four goals — he also scored in the Canadian Championship this year — while goalkeeper Yann-Alexandre Fillion has played in all 12 league games and posted three clean sheets.
- The HFX lineup features centre back Julian Dunn, who played for Valour for seven matches during the 2020 Island Games.
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:
#25 Loic Kwemi, attacker: One of Valour’s newest additions, along with midfielder Safwane Mlah, Kwemi made his CPL debut in the loss to Cavalry with 26 solid minutes off the bench in the second half.
His aggressive approach in pressing and speed in recovery make him a dangerous threat in the attacking third and could help create turnovers and pressure defenders while creating a spark for the Valour attack.
CRITICAL NUMBER
1-3-2
Wanderers Grounds had long been a nightmare stop for Valour FC until this spring when the club earned its first-ever win in Nova Scotia in a 2-1 decision.
Wanderers had one of the CPL’s best home records a year ago with nine wins and one draw against four losses, but is just 1-3-2 so far this year in their own backyard.
All-Time: Valour FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 6-3-11
Last meeting: May 20, 2024, Wanderers Grounds, Halifax — Wanderers 1 Valour FC 2