Belief, changing your stars, and a historic Wanderers win over Pacific FC
For a moment, with Pacific FC having equalized the score, it felt like the Wanderers were doomed to squander another lead versus the Tridents after commanding much of the match.
Football is often unfair.
But as highlighted in A Knight's Tale (it still holds up), with a little luck, it's possible for a man — or in this case, a club — to change their stars.
Consider Miguel Arilla: a skilled Spanish winger who, up until Friday, had all the technical tools (although we don't know his talent in the lists) to be a successful signing but had yet to make his mark for his new club.
Well, his presence was certainly felt versus Pacific as his corner kick in the 26th minute deflected into goal. Minutes later, he collected a loose ball in the Tridents' box and turned, firing a beautiful shot into the top corner to give his side a 2-0 lead.
The Wanderers, of course, struggled to maintain their lead and allowed Pacific back into the match, displaying some of the naïveté head coach Vanni Sartini had lamented back in April.
Suddenly, the score was tied 2-2.
But instead of collapsing (the football equivalent of Will Thatcher conceding defeat to Count Adhemar), the Wanderers responded well and were rewarded with a touch of luck as a Francesco Troisi cross deflected off Pacific's Kadin Chung to restore their lead.
Again, Arilla was at the forefront of the attack, finding Isaiah Johnston in the 74th minute for a tap in goal.
Tavio Ciccarelli, who came on as a substitute, capped off the performance with his third goal of the season and his club's fifth goal of the match, establishing a club record for goals scored.
Given the club's offensive struggles, and some disappointing results, this win felt like the dance scene where David Bowie's Golden Years blares across the screen: unexpected yet delightful.
In many ways, it's a moment the club and players needed, with the result launching the Wanderers up the table into a tie for fourth place. Their five markers on Friday represent 35 per cent (5 out of 14) of the goals they've scored all season.
Can you say catharsis?
"During the season, we kind of missed that last pass, that last shot on target," a jubilant Arilla told the OneSoccer panel. "Today, everything went well, everything went in our favour so I'm very happy and (we) just keep rolling with this goal scoring streak."
Later, speaking to reporters, Arilla declared the result a step in the right direction.
"This is just the beginning. We can't just stay on this game. We have another one on Wednesday that's just as important as this one," he said.
Despite a lackluster start to the season, the Wanderers very much have an opportunity before them: aside from Forge and Cavalry FC, the rest of the table is a mixed bag. A steady string of results, starting with Atlético Ottawa on Canada Day, could see the Wanderers continue to rise to where many expected them to be when they announced Sartini as their statement signing.
Make no mistake: the season is only going to pick up momentum from here.
After a lengthy break, the Wanderers are on track to play three matches in 10 days, with a cross-country flight to Vancouver Island on the books. They'll be tired.
But, if they showcase the belief, and harness a little luck, they might be able to change their stars and find themselves playing the brand of football they're capable of.
"That's our strength: how we move the ball," Sartini said post-match.
Editor's Note: This article is part of our free coverage.
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Further reading:
Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC
