Wanderers

Sartini: Halifax's lack of finishing is 'killing' them

An exasperated Vanni Sartini walked into the bowels of TD Place on Saturday, stressing to reporters he believes the Wanderers are playing quality football but also that their inability to put the ball into the back of the net is sinking their season.

Sartini's availability came on the heels of a frustrating 2-1 loss to Atlético Ottawa that saw the Wanderers create several quality chances. But most, as a result of a toe poke or skied ball, didn't result in a shot, much less a much needed goal. The Wanderers had only four shots for their efforts.

Missed opportunities have become the theme of Halifax's campaign so far.

When asked how he could address his side's inability to finish despite golden opportunities, the 49-year-old Italian was at his most blunt.

"I've got to be honest, I have no idea. I have no fucking idea actually. It's not that we tried there and the last pass is wrong or they defended well or we make the wrong choice. We actually pass the ball to someone in front of the net three times — one was a penalty but that's okay — but it is what is is," an animated Sartini told reporters.

"We repeated our mistakes. Between minutes 45 and minutes 60, we had three chances in front of the net, open net, and it's impossible we didn't score a goal, we didn't even take a shot. We were there, two against the goalkeeper, and that's the part of the game we're not improving. That's the part of the game that made us not win against Forge last game, made us not win in Calgary, made us lose against Supra the week before. It's a process, and at the moment it's a painful process, but we're doing very well. There's a lot of frustration because at the end, they got the three points and we didn't.

"We need to exploit our quality and I think we're doing it for 90 per cent of the game, not 100 per cent and that's killing us. That's killing us fighting for the playoffs and having a season that, okay, we're trying to win some games but it's going to be really hard from now on, to be honest."

Midfielder Lorenzo Callegari, who was playing his 100th match for the Wanderers, holds up his airs in frustration. (Photo Credit: Jordan MacDonald / Atlético Ottawa)

Both Sartini and Isaiah Johnston, who came out to speak on behalf of the players, said referee Mathieu Souaré's decision making had an impact on the game. But they also both said the Wanderers need to be better, especially coming back after the thunder delay, which lasted over an hour.

"I think there were some decisions that were or were not made that were out of the team's control," said Johnston.

"I just think, after the rain delay, we didn't manage the moments good enough and when you have quality across from you on the field, one moment can change something and that's what they did."

When asked what needs to change for the Wanderers to hit their potential, Johnston said it's about making the most of their opportunities.

"Scoring more goals, to be honest, and that includes myself not missing as many chances. We create and that's the truth. Since the World Cup break, we've created and we haven't been shut out many times since we came back. I think we need to do a little better in the final third," he said.

It's also the truth that the Wanderers inability to seize their opportunities isn't new: an inexperienced striker group, with many of the players struggling to find fitness or consistency, has meant that the club has had to play players out of position like Johnston to compensate.

There's no doubt that Johnston has played well — he currently leads the club in goals — but it's left the Wanderers in a position where if he doesn't score, and super-sub Tavio Ciccarelli, who has endured several knocks, can't contribute, the club is lacking another player capable of consistently scoring goals.

But it goes beyond scoring goals: the Wanderers struggle to generate shots despite working their ways into good positions on the pitch. They put a single shot on net in the first half (Miguel Arilla's goal), part of a larger trend of starting slowly.

What's ironic about Saturday is that the Wanderers had a better start than Atlético Ottawa, who were struggling to mark Halifax's runs, but were unable to convert their promising play into genuine opportunities.

Sartini said his side's play meant they deserved to win the match.

But he realized that three points weren't stolen from them, they simply failed to take them, which is a trend that has emerged through countless dropped points this season.

Sartini also doesn't want to hear about luck.

“It’s not luck because when it happens once, it’s luck. When it happens like in the last five, six games, it’s not luck. You can call it a lack of composure, you can fall it final decision making, you can call it killer instinct, it’s something we need to be much, much, much better at," he said.

Of course, there's only one antidote for the snake bitten, a remedy Sartini will look to apply when training starts again this coming week.

On Tuesday, boom, we get back and work, work, work and get better. That's the only attitude we can have," said Sartini.

Pleas to the football gods often fall on deaf ears. The club's roster construction means there's only limited help that can arrive before the end of the transfer window. If the Wanderers have learned from the first part of the season, the time to show it is now.

Editor's Note: This article is part of our free coverage.