In their first game in the Canadian Premier League’s 8th season, the Halifax Wanderers showed promise with a new coach and some fresh talent on the soccer pitch.
The Wanderers’ 1-0 victory came against Vancouver FC in Langley, B.C. on Saturday after Halifax midfielder Lorenzo Callegari found the back of the net on a free kick during the game’s second half.
However, marking his debut for the Wanderers after a lengthy run with Calvary FC in Calgary, it would be goaltender Marco Carducci that be the game’s most noticeable star, making several impressive stops between the posts for Halifax.
The win comes as the Wanderers kick off a new era with the addition of Vanni Sartini as head coach and general manager, as well as the acquisition of Carducci, former Canadian national team defender Marcus Godinho, and several others.
According to the Wanderers website, the former Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach said he plans to rotate Halifax players through and ensure everyone gets lots of playing time on the pitch as the season begins.
“In every team I coach, I like to rotate and to give opportunities to different players,” Sartini said. “I always say the team is the leader, and the team is composed of 22 players at the moment, and hopefully everybody will be a protagonist in one way or another.”
The Wanderers’ first home game will be on Apr.18 at 2 p.m. against Pacific FC.