It wasn't great football. But Pacific's win over the Wanderers showed the CPL's importance to players like Tiago Coimbra and Yann Toualy.
The Bayeux Tapestry is 70 meters long and 70 centimetres wide and famously depicts the Norman conquest of England. There are dozens of striking images, tales of another time, depicted in its colourful and storied wools. It is considered the world's most famous medieval embroidery.
But focusing on one image of the Bayeux Tapestry — a bishop rallying soldiers at the Battle of Hastings or, to bring this to the Wanderers context, a 3-2 loss to Pacific FC on Saturday night — ignores the larger narrative: there are many threads to follow.
One important thread for the Wanderers, stretching back to head coach Patrice Gheisar's first season in 2023, is the development of striker Tiago Coimbra.
Simply put, Coimbra is having a breakout season and it was on full display Saturday as he dominated Pacific's defenders with his strength and speed. He led the Wanderers with six shots, notched a thunderous header and followed it up with a great assist for teammate Yohan Baï's goal in the 35th minute.
Pacific, however, managed to scrape together a 3-2 lead thanks to attacker Yann Toualy and invited the Wanderers to break down their low block.
Coimbra's substitution in the 72nd minute removed Halifax's best goal scoring threat.
The Wanderers ultimately lost, failing to gain ground on Atlético Ottawa or Forge FC, both of whom had dropped points earlier in the day. But to zoom out, to follow Coimbra's story from his first season, is to appreciate the development being done in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and the place where Gheisar and his players find themselves: they have grown significantly together, even if Saturday was not their best showing.
Gheisar was asked about Coimbra ahead of Saturday's contest at Starlight Stadium and again post-match following another impressive performance. The 21-year old currently sits tied for second in the Golden Boot race with seven goals — six of which have come in his last eight matches — and is in contention for U-21 Player of the Year.
"This has been a three year project," Gheisar said when asked to reflect on his young striker's growth. "First and foremost, Tiago has always been the most enthusiastic player, one of the most enthusiastic players we've had. He's big, he's strong, he's fast."
Josh Healey
"He's worked really hard. He arrives three hours, three and a half hours, before sessions to do his treatment every single day to make sure he can play until he's 35, 40-years old. We've given him consecutive starts and you can see he's getting fitter, he's getting more confident, he's getting more rhythm. I'm really excited and I'm really happy with his growth.
"I want to say we've done the right job by him, we've supported him but I've got to give him a lot of credit, he's been so patient and continued to believe in himself and what we're trying to do with him."
Coimbra exemplified his coaches words almost immediately as he bullied a Pacific defender five minutes into the match to collect a lofted through ball. Setting his sights on goal, Coimbra cut inside the box, burning the Tridents' best player, Aly Ndom, in the process, and took a low shot towards goal, forcing 'keeper Sean Melvin to make a leg-kick save.
But Coimbra was not to be denied as he continued to push back Pacific's defenders and showcased his aerial ability. He got his head on a ball in the 26th minute that was just blocked and scored his seventh of the season minutes later off another corner.
It's fair to say that Coimbra always had the physical tools. However, this season we've seen the work he's done in reading and processing the game come to fruition; his decision on Baï's goal to dribble centrally and draw pressure before passing, is not one he likely makes in 2023. His movement — both on and off the ball — is greatly improved. And his body language, which speaks to his mentally, is noticeably more reserved when he makes a mistake.
Three years in the CPL has helped make Coimbra a better player, to the point where his absence on the pitch is noticed. Coimbra's 1.07 xG, as per Opta, led the Wanderers.
"I also felt things — not dipped — but our presence in the box reduced when (Coimbra) came out. When you have a guy like that, that puts in that kind of shift, you've got to give him credit that he doesn't try and save himself for 90 minutes, he went after every second," said Gheisar post-match.
"His tools are at a really high level."
Saturday's match also saw another player on the rise as Toualy, who was born in Côte d'Ivoire but grew up in Canada, scored his first professional hat trick to help Pacific to victory.
Like Coimbra, the 24-year old attacker is embracing his chance to hone his craft in the CPL.
"It means a lot, huh?" he explained post-match. "I think it’s my first year in CPL but for me, I thought I could play before. I was having a great season with CS Saint-Laurent the last few years. The work I put in everyday, the process of being myself, to never give up, it’s happened and I’m starting to shine in this league. For me, it means a lot.”
Toualy was one of several players who drew attention during CS Saint-Laurent's Canadian Championship run last year. He earned a move to Vermont Green in USL League Two, playing a handful of matches, before trialing overseas in Cypress.
But Pacific's belief, confirmed in the form of a contract with an option for 2026, gave Toualy the platform to grow at home in Canada. He's rewarded that faith the last few matches as he scored his first goal of the season against Vancovuer FC in a thrilling derby.
Toualy said Saturday's hat trick, which included a penalty, is only the beginning of what he hopes to achieve.
"After my first goal, I put it in my head, I've only scored one goal, at the end of the day, I'm still in my first year as a professional in the CPL, nobody knows me, I still have to keep going. Don't think I'm (special), because I scored one goal, that's a trap. It's not enough for me (to score one), I want more and more every day, I know I can do it, so I have to keep going like this," he said.
The Wanderers, of course, aren't satisfied with their loss; if Cavalry wins on Sunday, they could drop to fourth on the table. Atlético Ottawa and Forge remain ahead with four and five point leads.
But sometimes it's important to take a step back and appreciate the whole story, be it over the course of a football season or the invasion of England. There's many threads to follow and the fact that one of the CPL's youngest stars was developed in Halifax shouldn't be taken for granted.
Cover Photo Credit: Sheldon Mack / Canadian Premier League
