AFC Toronto rout Ottawa Rapid 4-0 to reach second straight NSL final

AFC Toronto beat Ottawa Rapid 4-0 at TD Place in Ottawa on November 7, winning the Northern Super League (NSL) semifinal 8-2 on aggregate to reach the final for a second straight year. The final will be played at the same stadium on November 14, against the winner of the other semifinal between Montréal Roses and Vancouver Rise. (Photo: file photo of a women’s football match. Photo: Europa Press.)

Hunter’s brace settles it before half-time

Kaylee Hunter opened the scoring after just six minutes and struck again in the 29th to complete her brace; Lena Silano made it 3-0 in the 44th minute. Nikki Small added a fourth in the 53rd minute to complete the 4-0 win. Toronto had already won the first leg 4-2 at home, so the return leg was never in doubt.

Back to Ottawa for the final, chasing a first title

Toronto reached the NSL final last year but lost to Vancouver on home turf, and will now chase the club’s first league title. In the other semifinal, Montréal Roses lead defending champions Vancouver Rise 3-0 after the first leg; the second leg is played on Sunday, November 8, in Laval, with the winners facing Toronto in the final.