First Canadian Championship match for HFX Wanderers FC? First Canadian Championship win. It was an evening full of goals, drama, and even an injury time penalty, one that saw HFX Wanderers FC edge League1 Ontario champions Vaughan Azzurri 3-2 in the first leg of this Canadian Championship Qualifying Round 1 matchup. With three away goals and a slim advantage in hand, the Wanderers now await Vaughan for the second leg in Halifax on May 22. But it wasn't easy to procure those spoils. Despite scoring a goal in the opening two minutes, HFX coach Stephen Hart strangely offered that it was nothing to celebrate. "I turned to my assistant when the goal was scored and said that is the worst possible start that could have happened to us," Hart said after the match. "I spoke to the players about having the right mental approach and the right mentality, we started well with the pressing game, got a goal from it but I'm always wary when things happen that early in the game." A second goal would be tallied for the Wanderers before half-time, but as soon as the players took the pitch for the remaining 45 minutes, things took a turn in Vaughan's favour. “They brought themselves (Vaughan) back in to the game off of an error from us," Hart offered. "We were sloppy and of course when you get scored on, your mentality should be not to get scored on again. "Of course, now they are playing with a lot more confidence and we didn't get hold of the ball to take the sting out of the game. For me, it's a mentality thing." For Vaughan Azzurri coach Patrice Gheisar, high praise for his squad's approach – and team spirit – wasn't exactly hard to draw. “I think we were expecting some nerves," Gheisar said. "They are a team that's been on the big stage and we certainly haven't. But I think the group got themselves going and it speaks very, very highly about who they are. "We didn't just put our heads down; we got better as the game went on and I felt like they started to see, no matter how hard they push, we're going to stand up to them. I think that speaks very highly about the warrior spirit that exists in these young men." Heading into next week's fixture, nothing is set in stone quite yet. The League1 Ontario outfit knows they have to score at least two goals without conceding, which may be hard to do at the intimidating Wanderers Grounds. But, as Gheisar offered, "It doesn't matter where you play." "You could use that crowd to encourage you even more," he concluded. "We just got to be ready for everything."

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