AFC Toronto reaches second straight NSL Final after 8-2 semifinal win over Ottawa
AFC Toronto advanced to the 2026 NSL Final after defeating Ottawa Rapid FC 4-0 in the second leg and 8-2 on aggregate. Kaylee Hunter scored twice as Toronto secured a November 14 championship matchup against Montréal Roses FC.
AFC Toronto is heading back to the Northern Super League Final after defeating Ottawa Rapid FC 4-0 in Saturday’s semifinal second leg at TD Place, completing an emphatic 8-2 aggregate victory and securing a second consecutive appearance in the championship match.
Kaylee Hunter scored twice for the second straight game, while Lena Silano and captain Nikki Small also found the net. Toronto followed its 4-2 first-leg victory at York Lions Stadium with another four-goal performance, leaving little doubt about the outcome of the two-legged series.
The result sets up a meeting with Montréal Roses FC on November 14 in Ottawa, where AFC Toronto will compete for its first Diana B. Matheson Cup.
Kaylee Hunter leads AFC Toronto’s dominant semifinal performance
AFC Toronto entered the second leg with a two-goal advantage following its 4-2 victory in Toronto, but the visitors maintained their attacking approach rather than relying on their aggregate lead.
Hunter once again played a central role, scoring two goals to finish the semifinal with four across the two matches.
Her consecutive braces helped Toronto produce eight goals against Ottawa, highlighting the team’s effectiveness in front of goal during the postseason.
Silano added another goal to Toronto’s total, while Small contributed from her captain’s role as the visitors secured a convincing result away from home.
Lauren Rowe provided two assists, and Zoe Hasenauer recorded her first career NSL assist, adding to the contributions across Toronto’s lineup.
At the opposite end, goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo made three saves to record her first NSL playoff clean sheet.
The shutout complemented Toronto’s attacking performance and ensured Ottawa had no opportunity to reduce the aggregate deficit.
Head coach Marko Milanović praised his players for responding to another important occasion.
“I thought the girls again delivered in a big game. It’s something that we’ve done over the last few years,” Milanović said. “Anytime there was a big occasion, these girls show up and play the way they did today.”
Hunter also pointed to the team’s ability to convert its opportunities across both matches.
“We’ve been ruthless in our attack. We’ve shown that these past two games,” she said. “Putting eight goals on the scoresheet in two legs isn’t easy.”
Toronto returns to the championship stage for second consecutive season
The victory sends AFC Toronto to its second NSL Final in as many seasons, following the club’s appearance in the league’s inaugural championship match in 2025.
Toronto’s latest qualification reflects a postseason campaign built on attacking production, with four goals in each semifinal leg.
Small explained that the team’s approach entering the second match was to establish control early rather than simply protect its advantage.
“We had that mindset going into this game of just scoring a goal early, putting the tie away,” the captain said. “But obviously we weren’t satisfied with one goal, so we got multiple.”
The result also represents another opportunity for the club to claim its first league championship.
AFC Toronto Co-Founder and CEO Helena Ruken acknowledged the significance of reaching consecutive finals while emphasizing the objective that remains.
“Reaching the NSL Final for a second consecutive season speaks to the ambition of this group and the work everyone at the club puts in every day. We still have something to prove,” Ruken said.
For Toronto, the semifinal demonstrated the value of maintaining its attacking approach across both legs. The team scored four times at home before matching that output in Ottawa, while its defensive performance in the return fixture prevented Rapid FC from finding a route back into the series.
AFC Toronto to face Montréal Roses FC in 2026 NSL Final
AFC Toronto will face Montréal Roses FC in the 2026 Northern Super League Final, presented by BMO, on Saturday, November 14, at TD Place in Ottawa.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET, with pre-match coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN and RDS.
The championship match will also be available through CBC, ESPN+ and the NSL’s YouTube channel, providing multiple viewing options for supporters.
The winner will become the second champion in Northern Super League history and lift the Diana B. Matheson Cup.
Toronto enters the final following an 8-2 aggregate semifinal victory, with Hunter’s four goals against Ottawa among the team’s most significant individual contributions.
The club will now turn its attention to Montréal, aiming to convert its second consecutive championship appearance into its first NSL title.
Tickets for the final are available through the league’s official website at NSL.ca/final.
