VIDEO: Vancouver FC begin season with close loss to Halifax<\/p>\n
Published 12:30 pm Sunday, April 5, 2026<\/p>\n
An overhauled Vancouver FC opened their 2026 Canadian Premier League season at home on Saturday afternoon, a 1-0 loss to the Halifax Wanderers FC at Willoughby Stadium in Langley.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It was a new-look Eagles, with a revised roster curated by head coach Martin Nash, promoted from interim fill-in last year.<\/p>\n
Nash is looking for forward to a boost in interest for soccer this season, with the World Cup coming to the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting times in the Lower Mainland for soccer, Nash observed in a game day interview, saying the Langley-based pro team intends to \u201cride the wave.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u2019re off to a good start, based on Saturday\u2019s crowd-pleasing performance.<\/p>\n
While it wasn\u2019t a win, VFC outpointed the visitors from Halifax in shots on goal (5-2), passing accuracy (86 per cent to 83 per cent) and duels won (49-36). The Wanderers had a better saves record (5-1) and better clearances (27-8)<\/p>\n
And Halifax had Lorenzo Callegari, who won it for the Wanderers by scoring a near-miraculous free kick in the 76th minute.<\/p>\n
Callegari, who was lined up well outside the box, popped it into the top corner for just his second CPL goal in his fourth season with the Wanderers.<\/p>\n
FREE KICK STUNNER \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n
Lorenzo Callegari scores an absolute BANGER to give @HFXWanderersFC<\/a> the lead in Langley. #CPLSoccer<\/a> <\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa: @OneSoccer<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pJSjYk8rJe<\/a><\/p>\n