AFC Toronto secured a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Roses in the first leg of the Northern Super League semifinal, with goals from Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter. The match saw Small scoring in the seventh minute and Hunter in the 70th minute. The second leg of the semifinal will take place on Nov. 9 at York Lions Stadium.
Toronto coach Marko Milanovic expressed confidence in winning the upcoming game and emphasized the team’s consistent preparation from the preseason to the present match. Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde had a standout performance, maintaining a clean sheet at Stade Boréale in Laval, Que.
Milanovic acknowledged the efforts of both teams but highlighted Toronto’s ability to convert their chances. He praised Cota-Yarde’s exceptional goalkeeping and commended the team’s defensive performance, especially considering the lineup changes due to injuries.
The aggregate winners of the semifinals will progress to the championship match on Nov. 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field. Small and Hunter’s goals early in the game were crucial in adverse weather conditions, as Small noted the importance of settling nerves with an early lead.
Hunter, who ranked second in scoring during the NSL’s inaugural season, was named the rookie of the year and recently participated in a Canadian team camp in Europe. Toronto finished at the top of the NSL standings in the first season, while the Roses secured the final playoff spot with a 10-9-6 record.
In the other semifinal, Ottawa Rapid FC will face the Vancouver Rise at TD Place. Fans can watch the full match replay of the Toronto vs. Montreal game to relive the action from the Northern Super League playoffs semifinals.