Wanderers dig deep, again down to 10-men, in 2-2 tie with Pacific FC. But time is running out in their playoff race.

There was a brief moment, with referee Ben Hoskins' red card aloft and contrasting the September dusk, that it felt like this was the end for the Wanderers' season.

Despite coming off a clinical 3-0 victory over Forge FC on Saturday, Halifax had once again hamstrung themselves with a red card in an important fixture. Centre-back Dan Nimick, who had been so integral to start the season, had been sent off for the second time in as many matches against Pacific FC. It was Halifax's seventh red card in 23 matches. And, as Nimick slowly walked off the pitch in disbelief, it seemed the Wanderers' playoff hopes went with him.

Except it wasn't the end.

Instead, the Wanderers responded with a character performance. Their 10-men outworked Pacific. They scored first, and when the Tridents responded, got a second. And although they conceded at the death, they earned a precious point to keep both their unbeaten streak at the Wanderers Grounds and playoff hopes alive.

Speaking post-match, head coach Patrice Gheisar said the coaching staff usually selects a player of the match but on Wednesday night, they simply walked into the dressing room and thanked their group for their compete.

"It was a real team effort. I'm really proud of the guys," he said.

Although their group showed resiliency, a 2-2 draw to their coastal rivals was not the match plan.

In fact, Gheisar went out of his way when addressing the media on Tuesday to state he had briefed his players on keeping their composure against a Pacific side that was going to test them physically.

"Number one, we need to have 11 players on the field," he said when asked about what challenges Pacific would offer his squad. "We need to have discipline. It's super, super important. We can't lose our heads because they're a team that will challenge you mentally and physically. It's really important when we have the ball to dictate the tempo but be aware of transitions."

Pacific played their role perfectly, coming out with an energy and purpose that made for an exciting first thirty minutes of play. Returning from a one-match suspension, Nimick made a sloppy challenge just outside his own 18-yard box against Dario Zanatta, who proved to be a thorn in Halifax's side all night long. Only 11-minutes later, Nimick was given a second yellow — which upon review, looked to be a soft call — forcing him off the pitch. He'll again be suspended for one-match, joined by teammates Yann Fillion and Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé for yellow card accumulation, according to Canada Soccer.

The 10 remaining Wanderers on the pitch responded well but, for the seventh time this year, were forced to try and earn a result following a player ejection. Even if Nimick's second yellow was a soft call, it speaks to a broader disciplinary issue which has plagued the club all season.

When asked about Halifax's discipline post-match, Gheisar said there's no excuses, especially in a fixture of this magnitude.

"If it was the first one, I'd say we made a mistake but there's been so many of them, we're naïve in the way we did it. I don't know how many more times we can say that that's a lesson and I'm really disappointed with that one," he said.

Asked to expand on how Nimick was doing, Gheisar deferred.

"I'm not sure. I think he's going to have to do some soul searching. I'm going to continue to support him but that's a difficult one, for sure, considering it was pretty much the same against this team last time. All we can do is be there for him, as the rest of the team, and hope that he can — and I know he can — get out of this," he said.

Despite being up a man for the duration of the match, Pacific initially struggled to pull apart Halifax's lines, which were organized and densely packed. Gheisar made a substitution late in the first half to bring on U-21 player Jefferson Alphonse to play alongside centre-back Nassim Mekideche and — as they did against Forge — proved to be a formidable duo.

Moving into the second half, Pacific continued to try and create but it was the Wanderers who struck first. With striker Ryan Telfer driving into the box, Massimo Ferrin moved into space on the left hand side, opening himself up for a pass. Instead, a Pacific player cleared the ball to him and he delivered a thunderous volley which went bar-down, sending the Wanderers Grounds into a frenzy.

Filling in for a suspended James Merriman, Pacific coach Amando Sá praised his opponents post-match.

"They're a good team, a very good team, with technical players. But we came with a mission here," he said. “We tried to attack the wide areas with numbers, we got some two-versus-ones there. We got a lot of situations, but they surprised us with that goal. But the boys again, they fought. The reaction is there.”

Pacific trailed for only a short time. Finding himself with some space outside of the 18-yard box, Trident Steffen Yates sent a hard shot on goal, which goalkeeper Yann Fillion saved but failed to corral. A streaking Moses Dyer pounced on the rebound and chipped it over the scrambling Wanderers keeper in the 66th minute to equalize. It was Dyer's third goal in three matches.

But the Wanderers didn't give up, responding with a goal of their own in the 78th minute. Midfielder Lorenzo Callegari took a free kick on the left side of the pitch and swung it into the box, finding Mekideche who redirected it past Pacific keeper Emil Gazdov to put the hosts back on top.

With time running out, and their legs tiring, the Wanderers contracted to soak up Pacific's pressure. There was collective groan from the grandstands as the referee announced seven minutes of extra time and, with less than two minutes left, CPL centurion Thomas Meilleur-Giguère managed to beat Fillion for a late equalizer.

When asked about Meilleur-Giguère's performance, Sá said simply it's the type of play the centre-back has showcased in big moments.

"He's a warrior, he's a captain and in these moments, captain's show up," he said. "It's not the first time he's done this."

With their point on Wednesday night, Pacific surpassed Vancouver FC and sit fifth on the table with 27 points. Vancouver is one point behind while the Wanderers find themselves with 24 points and on the outside.

Speaking to The Wanderers Notebook in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Meilleur-Giguère stressed his club was at the point of the season where getting results trumps performances. Despite having to battle back against a side with 10-men, they managed to get an important point on Wednesday.

“We want to play our football, for sure. But whatever’s going to get us into the playoffs, that’s what we’ve got to do. It’s all about business now, it’s not about manners, it’s not about how you do it. Make sure you’re in it because for Pacific FC, not being in the playoffs can’t happen. It’s not us, it’s not the club, we can’t let it happen,” he said.

For his part, Pacific's Yeates agreed, telling reporters post-match that his club is finding its form at the right time.

“Everyone understands the position that we were in the last couple months,” said Yeates.

“I think it’s started to click again with the addition of Dyer, his energy that he brings to the team, as well as Zanatta finding his form as well, being clinical in the box and being in the right positions. I think we’ve always had that ability to get to a different position and hopefully continue on.”

Despite their red card, it's clear that the Wanderers are also playing their best football these last two matches. Their victory over Forge was emphatic and, until Nimick's sending off, looked poised to dismantle a tired Pacific side.

And although they fell short of three points, Gheisar said he was proud of how his players reacted.

“I think they were magnificent,” he said. “Honestly, I just felt inspired by watching them. Pacific’s a terrific team, but I don’t think if you showed up at the 40th minute you’d be able to tell we were a man down. The two goals were both wonderful and a lot of guys stepped up.

"You can take a lot of momentum from that game. It just depends how you look at it."

Further reading:

• Wanderers dismantle Forge FC in critical 3-0 win to keep their playoff hopes alive
• Aiden Rushenas always knew he’d get his chance. But to earn his professional debut, he first needed to learn the art of waiting.
• Wanderers ‘self-destruct’ against Pacific: Why emotions are sinking their playoff hopes

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC