For the second straight year, the Halifax Wanderers thrived as the underdog in a Canadian Championship quarterfinal against a Major League Soccer side, proving to be a worthy opponent against a challenging foe.

It took a late goal from Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osario to break the deadlock, giving the visiting side a 2-1 win at a sold-out Wanderers Grounds on a sunny and warm Tuesday night.

“It’s obviously a tough result, but the guys showed a lot of resilience, I think we deserved more from the match,” midfielder Aidan Daniels said after the match.

“The crowd was amazing, they definitely pushed us and helped us.”

Excitement for the match was building around the stadium shortly after the gates opened, with fans showing up well before kickoff to grab their places in the stands, wave flags, and sing songs of support. Local Halifax musician Rich Aucoin also played a handful of songs, leading the Kitchen through a singing of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Over 90 minutes, the Wanderers players constantly gave the 6,500 supporters in attendance a reason to stand up — or stay standing — and cheer.

Halifax came out with energy, starting a side that featured seven changes to the starting XI from the CPL home match on Friday night. Forward Mour Samb made his first start for the Wanderers on the wing after making his club debut on Friday. Right-back Zachary Fernandez returned to the lineup after missing a match with a minor injury.

Christian Oxner got the start for the Wanderers, with the goalkeeper wearing a baseball cap to shade his eyes during golden hour. His team kept pace with TFC throughout the first half, as Halifax outshot Toronto five to one and generated more dangerous scoring chances through 45 minutes.

As the sun dipped behind the QEI hospital across the street from the Grounds and the shadows of the players stretched long across the pitch, the Wanderers retreated to the dressing room for halftime with the score still level at 0-0.

“I’m disappointed with the result, but the performance of the players, almost every one of them was fantastic,” said head coach Stephen Hart after the match. “Excellent first half, very balanced, very composed. Except for a few minutes in the opening of the second half, we bought ourselves back into the game after being scored on. I’m proud of them, of course.”

Toronto FC was the first team to make changes, with three substitutions at the half including bringing on Jonathan Osorio, Ayo Akinola, and Jesús Jiménez. It was the visitors who found success first off of a set-piece, with Jordan Perruza scoring on a corner in the 55th minute.

After over an hour of outstanding play from Andre Rampersad, the captain was substituted after several hard tackles around the 67th minute, with Akeem Garcia coming on as a replacement.

“(Rampersad) was in control of the midfield. He moved the ball from side to side, he was splitting lines with his passes, and he was playing behind,” said Hart. “Defensively, he was coming up with the ball. He reads the game very, very well. He does protect the defense very well. I thought he was arguably one of the better players on the pitch tonight.”

Shortly after the Garcia substitute, the moment that sent the entire stadium into a frenzy occurred when forward Samuel Salter took a shot from outside the box, fooling Toronto keeper Quentin Westberg and finding the far bottom corner in the 69th minute.

We’re level in Halifax 🌊

🧂 Sam Salter picks out the bottom corner from outside of the box to tie the match for @HFXWanderersFC #CanChamp l 📺: @onesoccer
pic.twitter.com/O20469nWLA

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) May 24, 2022

“It’s a great feeling, there’s nothing better than scoring at the Wanderers Grounds,” said Sam Salter after the match. “Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what happened. I shot and it went in, I was buzzing at this point.”

After the goal, the Wanderers kept generating chances and pressing towards the Toronto goal in front of The Kitchen. On a Halifax corner kick shortly after the goal, the entire main stand and kitchen were on their feet, with Stephen Hart on the touchline also offering encouragement to the fans to get up and make noise.

Salter’s goal was part of a consistent attack from the Wanderers throughout the match. Halifax outshot Toronto 14 to 7, including 8 shots from inside the box.

Jacob Shaffelburg, from Port Williams, Nova Scotia, made his return to the Wanderers Grounds for the first time since playing for an under-23 selects team under the Wanderers name in the summer of 2018. The Toronto FC winger had a contingent of family, friends, and supporters dressed in red at the stadium —  including a section in 105 with a banner with his likeness and “Shaff” written on it. Shaffelburg’s touch in the box set up the winning goal late in the match.

‘It shows we can ball,’

Much like the 2021 CanChamp quarterfinal against CF Montréal, the Wanderers went toe-to-toe with an MLS side for the majority of the game. Last year, Halifax and Montreal were tied until the 89th minute, when a second-half substitute was able to break the deadlock in an eventual 3-1 lead.

“It just shows we can ball. As I said before, I think we have the team to play with these guys and we did tonight. It just shows how much effort and quality we have as a team and individually, that we can play with these guys,” said Daniels after playing the entire 90 minutes against his former club.

“It’s just unfortunate that the result didn’t go our way but the crowd was amazing. It just shows how good the club is.”

The Wanderers continue a four-game homestand on Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. when they host York United. It’s the second meeting of the year for the two teams, with Halifax opening its season with a 1-0 win at York Lions Stadium on April 7.