Vancouver Rise beats AFC Toronto in NSL Final at BMO Field

• AFC Toronto 1 (Hunter 20’), Vancouver Rise 2 (Cote-Tarde OG 54’; Ward 68’)          
• Vancouver comes from behind to deny Toronto a historic double 
• Game was halted for more than 20 minutes due to thunder and lightning   

TORONTO – All hail the Vancouver Rise, the undisputed queens of the Northern Super League.  

Vancouver overcame AFC Toronto’s home field advantage and a first-half deficit to record an improbable 2-1 win in Saturday’s NSL Final and be crowned champions of the league’s inaugural campaign.    

Vancouver benefitted from an own goal and a strike by Canadian international Holly Ward to secure the victory before an announced crowd of 12,429 at BMO Field, which included Canadian women’s team icon Christine Sinclair and several soccer other dignitaries.    

It was a drizzling, cold afternoon and the game was halted for over 30 minutes late in the first half due to inclement weather. But that could hardly stop the Rise’s amazing come-from-behind effort that was capped off by them hoisting the Diana B. Matheson Cup amidst fireworks in the post-match presentation on the pitch.  Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan made seven saves and was named the game's MVP.

Vancouver denied Toronto what would’ve been a historic double after the home side claimed the Supporters’ Shield as the regular season champions. The Rise showed great heart and determination in coming from behind on the road in front of a partisan crowd, just like they did last week in the second leg of its playoff semifinal against Ottawa Rapid FC in the nation’s capital to punch their ticket for Saturday’s final. 

"Toronto played a really good first half. But the resilience in this team is just amazing. To come back from that and finishing it up like that win a 2-1 win, I'm just so proud," Vancouver coach Anja Heiner-Møller.

Midfielder Samantha Chang, who set up Ward's winning goal, echoed her coach's sentiments.

"We knew that's what it was going to take to beat a really good team like Toronto; it was going to take every single one of us stepping up in our moments, and that's exactly what happened today," Chang offered.

Toronto entered this contest as the favourite having won 10 of its previous 13 matches with just a single loss. It also scored a league-high 42 goals and had the league’s second-best defence (24 goals conceded) during the regular season. But in the end, Vancouver’s resolve won out on the day.

“Congrats to Vancouver … They found a way to do it,” said Toronto coach Marko Milanović, who bemoand the number of scoring chances his team didn’t put away.

He added: “Sometimes in football that’s what happens – you get punished.”

Marko Milanović (NSL coach of the year) fielded a strong starting 11 that included captain Emma Regan (midfielder of the year), fellow Canadian internationals Sarah Stratigakis, Victoria Pickett and Zoe Burns, and top forwards Kylee Hunter (rookie of the year) and Esther Okoronkwo. Heiner-Møller countered with a lineup featuring McAslan (Golden Glove winner), and Canadian national team members Ward, Quinn, Chang and Latifah Abdu.      

The hosts came as advertised in this match as they swarmed Vancouver right from the opening kickoff and carried the play through the first half. Toronto’s relentless attack, spearheaded by Hunter and Okoronkwo and abetted by Nikalya Small, put all kinds of pressure on the Rise, and ended the first half with a 14-4 edge in total shots (8-0 on target).      

Toronto carved out early scoring chances through Small and Hunter who failed to finish at the back post off a wonderful cross from Regan. Toronto’s captain also had a good look on goal with a dangerous attempt from distance that produced a smart save from McAslan. But Toronto wouldn’t be denied and broke the deadlock when Stratigakis played a defence-splitting pass that released Hunter in on goal, and she slipped her close-range shot through McAslan’s legs.   

The young forward had a chance to double Toronto’s lead a few minutes later when she turned Rise defender Rebecca Lake inside-out in the penalty area before flashing a low drive wide of the far post.      

Quinn was subbed off with an injury in the 37th minute after getting tangled up with Okoronkwo in the middle of the park. The veteran midfielder was helped off the field by the medical staff.     

Moments later, referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin halted the match and sent the players back to their locker-rooms due to thunder and lightning in the local area. Supporters had to evacuate their seats and seek refuge inside the stadium. Players and fans were allowed to return after half an hour and play resumed following a brief warm-up period for both teams on the pitch.    

Toronto picked up where it left off prior to the break by continuing to ruthlessly turn the screws on Vancouver. Hunter’s deflected shot from inside the penalty area hit the post and Okoronkwo was denied a sure goal when Rise defender Jasmyne Spencer made a fabulous goal-line block on her rebound attempt.    

That missed opportunity proved costly. The visitors tied things when Regan’s poor attempt at a clearance off a Vancouver corner kick at the near post was mishandled by Toronto goalkeeper Sierra Cote-Tarde before setting into the back of the net.    

Vancouver completed the comeback when Ward latched onto a fabulous ball played out from the back by Chang and then went on a rampaging run down the left side as she outpaced Burns before cutting inside into the box and snapping her angled shot by Cote-Tarde.    

NOTES: These teams earned two wins each and played to a draw over the course of their five regular season matches… Toronto earned a historic 7-0 home win on Sept. 13 in their previous meeting, representing the largest margin of victory in the NSL’s first season… Toronto pummeled Montreal Roses FC 6-1 on aggregate in its playoff semifinal. Vancouver played Ottawa to a 3-3 aggregate draw before earning a dramatic 5-4 victory in the penalty shootout to book its spot in the final. 

(Top photo courtesy of Vancouver Rise)

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