Squad depth, exemplified through Vitor Dias' late heroics, propels Wanderers past Valour FC

"These are not your 2024 Halifax Wanderers!"

These words, exclaimed by OneSoccer's Adam Jenkins following midfielder Vitor Dias' 90th minute winner versus Valour FC on Friday, highlight what head coach Patrice Gheisar and the Wanderers have worked hard to prove since the off-season: this is a different group.

Although many of the players are the same, it's hard not to agree with Jenkins' assessment four matches into Halifax's new campaign. The Wanderers currently sit atop the table with 10 points and remain undefeated. They've shown a killer instinct in front of goal, exemplified by the bright link up play between Tiago Coimbra and Dias on Friday. And, perhaps most importantly, they've found a way to execute away from the Wanderers Grounds, earning seven points and banishing their road demons in emphatic style.

Dias is one of the Wanderers who struggled last year so it feels fitting his improved play mirrors that of his club. He battled injury in 2024 and, like the Wanderers, struggled to get into a groove, making sparing appearances — 18 in all — from the bench. Now, through only four matches in 2025, the technical Brazilian has already matched last year's production, Friday's timely goal proving the difference maker in a tight affair.

"Last year, it was so hard for us to win games," said Dias post-match.

"We got unlucky sometimes, sometimes we couldn't close but this year feels like a fresh start. Things are happening for us and I have a really good feeling about this season."

The caveat, of course, is that this season is young; the Wanderers will have to continue to show they've truly changed their spots.

But the early results are promising and, a meltdown at TD Place aside, Gheisar's squad is displaying a steeliness and professionalism missing from last year's campaign.

This new mentality was evident on Friday as the Wanderers again started the same XI, including a backline of Wesley Timóteo, Kareem Sow, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère and Adam Pearlman. Although sluggish to start, the Wanderers kept Valour's attackers to the perimeter and largely neutralized their 34 crosses throughout the match. Rayane Yesli, signed this off-season to replace veteran Yann Fillion, was solid in goal. Together, Yesli and the defenders managed to earn their first clean sheet of the year, a fact not lost on Gheisar post-match.

"We're on the road, we get a clean sheet, that's something to be really proud of," he told reporters. "Rayane (Yesli) has continued to get better and more comfortable. I thought Adam Pearlman had his best game of the season and I was very, very happy with Thomas (Meilleur-Giguère) and Kareem (Sow). Thomas has come in and Thomas has shown us why he's one of the best defenders in this league with the experience he has and he knows a lot and he just loves defending."

The addition of Meilleur-Giguère, from the outside looking in, seems to have added a calmness to the Wanderers. Several players have also stepped up, especially the likes of Sow and Pearlman, who have grabbed onto roles — with presumed starters like Nassim Mekidèche waiting in the wings — and grown steadily.

Gheisar's decision to introduce a trio of substitutes in the 66th minute, including Dias, Coimbra and speedy Frenchman Yohan Baï, also turned the tide in the second half, tilting possession in Halifax's favour with fresh legs.

For his part, Dias said he's embraced his role off the bench, adding it's an opportunity to take advantage of flagging opponents.

"I think when you start on the bench, if you watch the game, you can see where the spaces are and how you can affect the game when you come in. I think the three of us did that job perfectly and we were even talking about it, we were ready to change the game when we came on," he explained.

All three of Dias, Coimbra and Baï asked questions of Valour's defence, with Baï forcing 'keeper Jonathan Viscosi into a save minutes after coming on. Later, in the 78th minute, Dias slipped a ball to a streaking Coimbra, who narrowly missed.

The substitutes would ultimately prove the difference makers at the death, with Dias dribbling into space just outside of the 18-yard box. He played a pass off to Coimbra, who returned the ball via a deft backheel, and Dias delivered a low, hard shot to the right side of the net to beat Viscosi.

The Wanderers won 1-0.

But it wasn't the first time the Wanderers' depth has starred this season; Coimbra and Baï scored against York United FC and Pacific FC, respectively, off the bench, a trend Gheisar is hoping to nurture moving forward. He said his depth on the bench is a difference maker so far in this young campaign.

"I felt like we got better and better as the game went on and, you know, that's every single game that I feel our subs have been brilliant, not just with the quality, I think what's really important is the energy they're bringing in," said Gheisar.

"It just brings a different element. I feel bad because I think a lot of those subs could start for many of the teams in this league and that's what makes us a little bit different this year. We have depth and competition every single week."

But Gheisar knows, and has affirmed with media, that their current unbeaten streak is only one small piece of the puzzle. His mantra in the past — and a key message with a young squad — is to never get too high or too low. Inevitably, Halifax's three match winning streak feels like a high. But the fate of their season, as it was last season, will rest on how they handle the adversity of the lows.

The Wanderers' depth has helped them reach a first summit, enjoying a sojourn atop the table as leader, a feat they never accomplished in 2024. But for a club desperate for a first trophy, the real climb — and challenge — is about to begin.

Gheisar and his squad have 24 regular season matches left to prove that this is a different group. Friday was yet another example of how they have changed.

Cover Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League