Leadership, and a touch of luck, guide Wanderers to their first win of 2026
After 16 months of watching from the sidelines following his dismissal from the Vancouver Whitecaps, head coach Vanni Sartini relished being back in the action, guiding his Wanderers to a narrow 1-0 win over Canadian Premier League (CPL) side Vancouver FC.
There are several positives to take from the match, including starring performances from veterans like goalkeeper Marco Carducci and French pivot Lorenzo Callegari, who scored a free kick for the ages.
But like a boxer that knows they spent far too much time on the ropes, the 49-year old Italian gaffer bluntly told reporters his side wasn't the most deserving. It's hard to argue with him: Vancouver FC led in shots (17), possession (54 per cent) and generally had control of play for their season opener at Willoughby Community Park.
Josh Healey
"I've got to be completely honest, I don't think we deserved to win," Sartini said post-match.
"They were a little more intense than us, we have to be honest. We weren't able to move the ball fast enough and I think the two guys who came on — Miguel Arilla and Ryan Telfer — they gave us a little bit more. In that 10-minute spell, we started pushing and then we get the free kick and Lorenzo scored.
"I think we have the answer I had in pre-season. That we're a solid team, we're very well organized, it's very hard to break us down, we're good at bringing the ball forward until the last 30, 35 metres. We need to get better in the final third."
Sartini acknowledged football, that fickle god that giveth and taketh away, is full of injustices and said there'll be matches where the Wanderers deserve a result but will lose in the future. But on Saturday, a moment of brilliance, and a spot of good goalkeeping, was enough to get the club their first three points of 2026.
So, the win aside, how did the Wanderers perform for their first match in the Sartini era?
A homecoming but mixed bag tactically
It's no secret that the Wanderers are tied to the Whitecaps this season thanks to Sartini's connections, with Marcus Godinho, Francesco Troisi, Cyprian Kachwele and Finn Linder all making their club debuts in the city that launched their football careers.
However, despite the homecoming, the Wanderers started the match very much looking like a side that had only retained 10 players from last year. The striker duo of Kachwele and Jason Bahamboula, who Sartini started for their pace, were on an island by themselves for the first half. Halifax's lines had vast chasms of space between them. Midfielders — be it Callegari or former Toronto FC academy man Lucas Olguin — were forced to play long balls or recycle back. Attacking in the final third proved difficult regardless of Sartini's fluid 3-5-2 formation in possession.
But it wasn't from lack of trying. Vancouver FC, determined not to finish at the bottom of the table again, were excellent as players like Morey Doner consistently won their duels along the flanks, clipping Halifax's wing-backs.
Josh Healey
There was also an element of learning for the Wanderers as they adjust to each other. Callegari and Olguin had a few instances where they were on top of one another, each used to playing as a No. 6. Midfielder Isaiah Johnston, arguably Halifax's best player last year, was tasked with being even more offensive. Several errant passes also marked a squad learning on the fly.
But great teams find a way to win, and although we don't know the calibre of these new-look Wanderers, Sartini's substitutions helped lead to three points.
"Our No. 8s, so Olguin and (Johnston), they were too shy. There were too low and when we had the ball, they never attacked the space behind the full-back. I think they have two very good full-backs — Doner and (Paris) Gee — and we had to put them in trouble," explained Sartini.
"When Telfer came on, he was always attacking the space in behind and the game changed. We had much more of this kind of possibility."
It didn't take long for Telfer, a Trinidad and Tobago international, to make his mark as he drew a key foul just minutes into his appearance, which set up Callegari's wonderous free kick.
With the Eagles pressing in the later stanzas of the match, Sartini wisely chose a number of defensive substitutions, bringing on captain Andre Rampersad and centre-back Linder to close out the match.
Leadership, thy name is Marco Carducci
Although he wasn't sporting his Moon Mist kit, goalkeeper Marco Carducci still had a colourful performance in his Wanderers debut.
The 29-year old 'keeper made several key saves throughout the tilt, including a fantastic block on Nicolás Mezquida in the 42nd minute to keep the score tied. Later, with Halifax holding onto a tenuous 1-0 lead, he made a pair of outstanding saves, including a diving stop on Damiano Pecile that helped secure the victory.
Carducci finished the match with five saves.
But it's not just the two-time Golden Glove winner's performance between the sticks that was noticeable: as both Sartini and Callegari noted post-match, Carducci's leadership is felt throughout the squad.
Josh Healey
"I've coached a lot of players in my life," said Sartini. "I think Marco is top three in terms of leadership that I’ve seen in my life. Everybody says he’s a veteran but he’s like 29-years old, he’s not 40, but I think he has a lot of years in front of him.
“He’s got this natural charisma, this natural aura of being a little bit the dad of everyone in the locker room that helps a lot.”
Callegari echoed his coach's words, praising his performance.
"I think he's a leader on and off the field so we're really happy to have him on the team and he's going to help us win games, for sure," he said.
What's interesting is that Callegari has also spoken about taking a step forward as a leader for the Wanderers this season, specifically as it relates to younger players like Olguin. It's something he's actively working on. And it resulted in a performance, alongside one of Halifax's other leaders in Carducci, that made all the difference.
Different mentalities for different situations
Callegari admitted post-match he thought about crossing the ball for his free kick.
Given his skillset as a passer, and the lone CPL goal to his name entering the match, it would've seemed a reasonable decision given the distance to the net.
But his decision to shoot, to try the riskier play, helped win Halifax the match.
Sartini has challenged the former Paris Saint-Germain academy player this season to contribute more offensively while also remaining part of Halifax's defensive spine.
It's something Callegari spoke about in pre-season.
"I have to change my mentality, that's for sure," he told HFX Football Post in French.
"I need to be more decisive, to find myself in better spaces (than as a defensive midfielder) so it's got to be different. I still have to be strong defensively but also I have to help carry things offensively."
As mentioned earlier, it wasn't a flawless performance by Callegari as he and Olguin sort out their dynamic, with both coveting the ball. You could argue his yellow card was unnecessary. But his quality on the ball, and his teammates innate trust in him, makes the Frenchman worth his weight in gold when he's tuned in.
Josh Healey
Sartini, of course, is trying to harness Callegari's talents while gently guiding him to a more structured style of play.
"The challenge that I have with Lorenzo this season is he needs to be more disciplined tactically. If he adds this, everybody knows, if you follow me, that I'm really keen on everybody needs to move in the position for the team and I think Lorenzo has a, I would say, anarchic way to play," said Sartini.
"If he does like he did today, that he stays in position and he's able to give us his quality, the balance there, he's one of the best players in the league, to be honest, and he's able to make these special things."
If Sartini can unlock the best version of Callegari, it'll go a long way in ensuring Saturday's win is the first of many this season.
Editor's Note: This article is part of our free coverage.
Want access to HFX Footy Talk, our Supporters Club exclusive podcast?
Cover Photo Credit: Gurkeerat Sidhu / Vancouver FC
