AFC Toronto secured a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Roses in the first leg of the Northern Super League semifinal. Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter scored for Toronto in the seventh and 70th minutes, respectively. The second leg will take place on November 9 at York Lions Stadium.
Toronto coach Marko Milanovic expressed confidence in their upcoming game, emphasizing the team’s consistent preparation from the preseason to the current match. Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde played a pivotal role in maintaining a clean sheet for Toronto at Stade Boréale in Laval, Quebec.
Milanovic acknowledged that both teams had scoring opportunities, with Toronto capitalizing on theirs. He praised Cota-Yarde’s outstanding performance in goal and commended the team’s defensive efforts despite facing injuries and lineup changes.
In the other semifinal match, Ottawa Rapid FC will face the Vancouver Rise at TD Place. The winners of the semifinals will advance to the championship match on November 15 at BMO Field.
Small and Hunter’s goals early in the match set the tone for Toronto’s victory, with Small highlighting the importance of scoring early to settle the team’s nerves in challenging weather conditions. Hunter, who ranked second in scoring during the NSL’s inaugural season, was named Rookie of the Year and recently participated in a Canadian team camp in Europe.
Toronto finished at the top of the NSL standings with 16 wins in the league’s first season, entering the playoffs with a five-game winning streak. The Roses secured the final playoff spot with a 10-9-6 record.
The match replay and highlights are available for viewing online.