'It hurts a little bit': Wanderers drop fourth match in a row, head home looking to find goals
For a moment, it seemed like Victor Akinwale had scored his first goal for the Wanderers. He'd pounced on a fortuitous bounce with the clock winding down. And Atlético Ottawa 'keeper Tristan Crampton was so far off his line he might as well have crossed the provincial border into Québec. The net was open.
But football is cruel.
Football didn't care that the Wanderers had put in a strong second half on Sunday, emerging with purpose after a listless opening 45 minutes. Football didn't care that head coach Vanni Sartini had pulled some of the right levers by subbing in Akinwale. And football didn't care that Akinwale had had his best performance in a Halifax shirt.
For a moment, it seemed like Akinwale had scored his first goal for the Wanderers but the ball, spinning like a top, smacked the left post before being cleared. Time bled out and the Wanderers lost — their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.
Although his affable self speaking to reporters post-match, Sartini admitted the loss to Atlético Ottawa hurt. It felt like another lesson in an early season filled with lessons. But Sartini remains optimistic.
"It's been a good learning curve," he said. "I started the season with an idea about what we were going to do but in the end, it's not about applying the best idea you have in mind but the best idea for the team."
Sartini added he felt like there were positives to build from, highlighting a second stanza which saw the Wanderers register seven shots (they had none in the first half) and a hair's breath away from scoring. There were some quality chances, ranging from Akinwale's header to a Ryan Telfer shot on a break, but the club continues to struggle to score in open play. Their only player to score from open play — Vancouver Whitecaps loanee Cyprian Kachwele — wasn't on the pitch during their resurgence.
Part of Halifax's lack of goals can be attributed to luck, the football gods as prone to cruel jokes as their Greek counterparts. Sartini himself said Akinwale ringing the post was a synopsis for their current form: everything is going against them.
Veteran Marcus Godinho, however, offered a different view.
"I think that goals change games and at the moment, we're not taking our chances," he said. "It's just a difference of quality up top at the moment. If we're not scoring, we're not going to win games and that's our biggest issue at the moment."
Asked further questions about the opposition, Godinho returned to the theme of Halifax failing to take their chances.
"It's a bit on us, to be honest, more than (Atlético Ottawa) defended fantastically. I think when you've got an open net and hit the post, you can't say anything about the defending if there's no one in front of you. We need to finish our chances. That's the biggest thing," he said.
What's interesting, and perhaps very telling, is both Godinho and Sartini didn't call out particular players: they know they're dealing with a very young striker group. And they're still at the beginning of a marathon.
The trick, of course, is getting the best out of their attacking players, ranging from Jason Bahamboula to Tavio Ciccarelli.
Kachwele didn't need to be told he needs to take a better touch in the first half on his breakaway. Akinwale's more than aware of his missed opportunity. Instead of berating them publicly, Sartini said now is the time for the squad to come together.
But what will be more telling is Sartini's actions moving forward as he searches for a partnership upfront that offers some teeth. Despite getting the majority of the starts, Bahamboula has managed a lone shot through 333 minutes. Ciccarelli, in contrast, has four shots through 96 minutes; Akinwale has two in 86 minutes. Could either of them be better starting partners for Kachwele given Bahamboula, who is a fine player, doesn't seem to be getting into positions to shoot?
Make no mistake: scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in football consistently. Former Wanderers head coach Stephen Hart often said anyone can destroy a house but not everyone can build one.
The Wanderers are currently building their house, brick by brick. With six matches under their belt, we're starting to see which players Sartini views as foundational to his master plan. It'll be interesting to see if some players become window dressing. Or he opts to bring in missing pieces during the transfer window.
Either way, one of those pieces is going to have to start scoring if the Wanderers hope to climb the table. But Sartini believes in the players he's got with him now.
"We are on the right path," he said.
Editor's Note: This article is part of our free coverage.
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Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Cover Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League
