AFC Toronto will carry a two goal lead to the capital after beating Ottawa Rapid FC 4-2 at York Lions Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the first leg of the Northern Super League semifinal. Kaylee Hunter scored twice and added an assist, April Lantaigne scored the first goal of her professional career, Lena Silano scored once and created another, and goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo saved a penalty and recorded an assist of her own as Toronto fired 22 shots at the Ottawa goal.

The win closed a week that had already brought an honor to the club, with head coach Marko Milanović named the 2026 NSL Coach of the Year. His team then played like it, taking control of the Battle of Ontario early and never fully letting go.

The Stage Is Set

It was the Battle of Ontario with a place in the Northern Super League final on the line, and Toronto treated the home leg like a game they meant to settle early. The home support arrived in voice, autumn colour framed the stadium, and the hosts walked out into a proper playoff atmosphere at York Lions Stadium.

Toronto Strike First

Toronto pressed from the opening minutes, and the breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute. Hunter took control of a ball inside the penalty box and fed it to the top of the six yard box, where Lantaigne ran in and finished. For the midfielder from Ajax, Ontario, it was the first professional goal of her career, and it set the tone for the afternoon.

The match turned physical early. One minute after the goal, Toronto midfielder Zoe Hasenauer was shown a yellow card, and Ottawa’s Melanie Forbes followed her into the book in the 19th minute.

From One End to the Other

Toronto’s second goal, in the 25th minute, travelled the length of the field. D’Angelo launched a long ball out of her own area, Hunter ran onto it behind the Ottawa defence, and the 18 year old striker from Calgary made no mistake, burying her finish for a 2-0 lead. The assist was the first of D’Angelo’s NSL career.

Toronto kept coming. The home side owned the ball and the territory for long stretches of the first half, and Milanović later called it probably one of the best halves his team played all year.

D’Angelo Stands Tall

Ottawa’s best route back into the match came in the 30th minute, when they were awarded a penalty. D.B. Pridham stepped up, and D’Angelo read it and kept it out, protecting the two goal lead. A goal there changes the whole tie. Instead, Toronto went into half time still two goals clear.

D’Angelo finished the afternoon with three saves to go with her assist, and her distribution kept setting Toronto away on the break all match long.

Silano and Hunter Finish the Job

The second half opened with another card, Ottawa’s Keera Melenhorst booked in the 47th minute, and Toronto struck again in the 54th. Hunter’s initial attempt produced a rebound, and Silano collected it and buried her finish to make it 3-0.

Ottawa answered in the 58th minute through Choo Hyojoo, and the visitors briefly had a way back. Lantaigne was booked in the 62nd minute as the match opened up. Four minutes later Toronto closed the door: Silano turned provider, and Hunter buried her pass to complete her brace and restore the three goal cushion at 4-1.

Ottawa Refuse to Fold

Ottawa kept pushing and were rewarded near the end. Kayla Adamek was booked in the 88th minute, and in the 90th minute Melenhorst added Ottawa’s second to cut the final margin to 4-2.

The late goal frustrated the home bench. Milanović said his team deserved to win by more, given the chances created at both ends, but he allowed that the tighter finish might keep his side sharper in training this week.

What They Said

Milanović was pleased with the performance, but his mind was already on the second leg. “It’s only the first half of this (semifinal),” he said. “We have to forget about this game as quickly as possible and prepare for the next one. We’re obviously happy with our performance. First half was outstanding, probably one of the best halves we played all year. Second half was good as well.”

Hunter pointed to the team around her. “It’s an amazing feeling, but I think all of it came from the team,” she said. “We need to build off this momentum that we built and go into next week at 0-0.” The brace gave the 18 year old two goals and an assist in the biggest match of Toronto’s season.

D’Angelo was happy with the win and honest about the goals against. “Happy that we got the win. Little frustrated with two goals against, but that’s football. I think the team did really, really well front to back.”

Together at the Whistle

At the final whistle the Toronto players came together on the field, the whole squad sharing a two goal lead to carry on the road.

The home support had been in full voice all afternoon behind their team, and the players applauded them back at the end of a famous afternoon for the club.

Scoring Summary

AFC Toronto: April Lantaigne (11′), Kaylee Hunter (25′, 66′), Lena Silano (54′)

Ottawa Rapid FC: Choo Hyojoo (58′), Keera Melenhorst (90′)

Match Facts

Toronto finished with 22 total shots, 11 of them on goal, along with 2 corner kicks, 3 offsides and 8 fouls. D’Angelo made 3 saves. Five players were booked: Hasenauer and Lantaigne for Toronto, and Forbes, Melenhorst and Adamek for Ottawa.

The match was refereed by Scott Bowman, with assistants Félix Côté-Leclerc and Shukwia Tajik and fourth official Sheila Couture. Toronto’s starting lineup was Sabrina D’Angelo in goal; Colby Barnett, Sarah Rollins and Shelina Zadorsky in defence; Olivia Chisholm, Zoe Hasenauer, April Lantaigne, Lauren Rowe and Nikayla Small in midfield; and Kaylee Hunter and Lena Silano up front.

What Comes Next

Toronto travel to the capital for the second leg at TD Place Stadium on Saturday, November 7. Kickoff is 2 p.m. ET and the match is available on CBC. The winner of the tie advances to the Northern Super League final. Toronto go in up two goals, and by every word out of their own locker room, they are treating it as 0-0.

All photos by Neil Patel for We Speak Media.

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