Forge 1-0 Wanderers: Moby-Dick, wasted chances and the playoff race

It's important to recognize that Forge FC have become the Canadian Premier League's (CPL) white whale: it feels that, despite Atlético Ottawa swimming in their wake, there's little chance of catching them. There's time, of course, to upset the leviathan led by head coach Bobby Smyrniotis but it won't be the Wanderers who lay them low.

Halifax, pending a potential playoff meeting, played their last match of the season versus the Hamilton-based club on Saturday. They started strong, coming out the better side, but rushed their numerous chances in the first half. Inevitably, Forge scored late — a tidy bunt by Mo Babouli in the 81st minute— to secure a 1-0 win.

But it feels like the Hammers have haunted Halifax's season in a way. Just when Patrice Gheisar and his squad are building momentum, in this instance having scored eight goals spread across matches versus Pacific and Valour FC, they come up against Forge. The results have been decidedly one-sided this year as the Wanderers eked out a single draw — and four losses, including in the Canadian Championship — when facing Smyrniotis' side. It wasn't from lack of effort.

Like the Pequod's crew, the Wanderers pushed hard on Saturday despite missing striker Tiago Coimbra, who was out with injury. Sean Rea and Vitor Dias continued to perform as roving No. 10s, earning several chances, but — be it Jason Bahamboula's missed shot in the 19th minute or Rea's skied ball in the 20th — they were unable to test Forge goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat. None of Halifax's five shots in the first half were on net.

"I think we started off really strong, we created a lot of chances and I think that's where we need to be better, we need to bury those right away," said Rea post-match.

"I think we've been good, we've been creating a lot, been scoring a lot of goals and I think that's important, especially for us, where we struggled for a bit. I think we turned that around with four or five good performances, a lot of goals. We came here today feeling good, we thought we could've taken the three points but that's what happens when you play good teams and don't bury them right away.

"We could've had two, three, in the first 30 minutes of the game. They're a good team so they make us pay later on."

Forge grew throughout the match, with full-back Wesley Timóteo struggling to mark the shifty Nana Ampomah. Timóteo fouled the Ghanaian attacker in the box for a penalty in the first half but was saved by his former teammate Dan Nimick, who hit the post despite fooling 'keeper Rayane Yesli.

Later, Timóteo was beaten down the flank, allowing Ampomah to cross a ball into Brian Wright in the 73rd minute. Wright headed the ball down, causing it to bounce up off the cross bar and on the goal line before being grabbed by Yesli. Ampomah again took advantage on the rush as Timóteo didn't close the distance, giving the 29-year old time to whip the ball to Babouli, who made no mistake.

Gheisar waited to shuffle his squad, making substitutions a few minutes prior to the goal, and gave newcomer Reshaun Walkes — who signed earlier in the week — his debut in the 89th minute. Walkes looked good and had a chance to equalize as he took a touch in the box in the 94th minute to himself but volleyed it wide.

Although the Wanderers have been better of late, Gheisar noted their lack of finishing as the difference maker in the match.

"We started the game really well. I think in the 15th or 25th minute, when we really had the game with two hands, there were a couple of chances — and I don't want to name one of them — we needed to do a little bit more with. I think when you're creating so many chances, you've got to finish the action," he said.

"If finishing the action means the 'keeper has to make a save, it's a shot on net, you know, we didn't get that. I think it's just that little bit more belief in the final shot."

Halifax finished the evening with nine shots but only one on target, giving Koleilat the CPL record for shutouts in a single season.

With their series with Forge over, the Wanderers head to Cavalry for an important match, with heavy playoff implications, as the two clubs are separated by a single point. But Cavalry — like Forge — are one of only two clubs the Wanderers have yet to beat this season.

The Wanderers have grown in that they've mostly shown up in big matches. But the results haven't always come, with Saturday's loss to Forge being the latest example.

"I think when you're getting these good performances, you need to get more than just a good performance with no points to show for it. I'm disappointed we let it get away from us twice, maybe even three times earlier in the season where we tied them 0-0 at our home and we were all over them, but it is what it is, you've got to move on," said Gheisar.

It'll be interesting to see if Saturday's loss interrupts the momentum the Wanderers had built over the last several matches. They're in a good place on the table. And there's no use ruminating over Captain Ahab's lost leg.

The Wanderers face Cavalry at ATCO Field on September 13.

Cover Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League