Montreal Roses 1-0 Halifax Tides (August 29, 2026)
This was the weekend to watch the Northern Super League. This matchup drew 17,007 fans to Stade Saputo, the biggest showing in Northern Super League history. Evelyn Badu returned from international duty, and both teams were in precarious spots: the Montreal Roses were one win away from taking the number one spot in the league, while the Halifax Tides were trying to claw their way back into the playoff berths.
The opening half was a massive grind. A fierce back-and-forth battle saw both teams attacking each other's goals, with both Anna Karpenko (Roses) and Anika Tóth (Tides), along with their defensive lineups, standing strong. Each team was working hard to get the ball into the back of the net while also guarding their own goals.
The Tides were tenacious, aggressive, and held the line. The Montreal Roses were bold, tough, and kept moving up the field. When halftime came, the game was set in a painful, nerve-fraying stalemate.
In the second half, both teams were trying to take control, and it was tense. There were several close calls for both sides, and every player on the field was giving their all. Where the tide truly changed when S. Allen made a critical error, committing two fouls at once and receiving a red card.
That didn't mean the Montreal Roses were on easy street. The remaining nine Halifax players admirably held the line defensively and attacked offensively. However, the Montreal Roses were ready to take advantage, and it was in the 76th minute that Anne Seto struck from a corner kick to put the score at 1-0.
It was 27 tense minutes to watch because it was still anyone's game. The Halifax Tides held their own, but the Montreal Roses kept the front foot and walked away victorious.
It's notable that several players stood out in this game: Anna Karpenko (Roses) was an absolute wall. Anne Seto (Roses) was the saviour of the day, while Lisa Perchersky and Mimi Alidou were both brilliant. It was exciting to see Evelyn Badu back on the field, though it will be interesting to see how she adjusts to the new players around her.
On the Halifax Tides side, Cho So-Hyun made an incredible shot and came close to putting the Tides in the lead, while Jubes Vallerand and Stella Downing were dangerous as always.
Both teams should be proud of the game they played: a fantastic example of the utter determination these players show on the field.
Vancouver Rise 2-2 Calgary Wild (August 29, 2026)
If there is one takeaway NSL teams should absorb this weekend, it's this: the Calgary Wild can no longer be dismissed. While the Wild still sit at the bottom of the league, their continued improvement could spell trouble for every other team.
For the Vancouver Rise, this matchup was important. Three points from a win could have been the difference between holding onto a playoff berth and teetering on the edge of falling out of it. Every single point is going to count in the upcoming weeks.
In the opening half, a bloody collision between Kahli Johnson (Wild) and Jaime Perrault (Rise) stopped play while the injuries were assessed. Both players had to be moved off the field, leaving each team with ten players while play continued. Kahli Johnson (Wild) was able to return, but Jaime Perrault (Rise) was replaced by R. Partovi. Unfortunately for the Rise, Racquel Partovi only lasted a few minutes before she also had to leave the field due to injury, being replaced by Myla Ewasiuk.
The first goal was Calgary's, as Carlee Johnson took the ball upfield before playing a quick pass to Serita Thurton, who pushed the ball into the net with a cunning sliding finish. A defensive foul by Josephine Aulicino then allowed Quinn to equalize from the penalty spot.
Eager to keep the lead, Calgary took possession, and in the 42nd minute, Serita Thurton launched a beautiful cross in front of goal, where K. Thurton put the ball into the back of the net.
The second half was a fiercely competitive battle, with the Wild fighting to hold their ground and Vancouver looking to take every opportunity they could get. K. Johnson (Wild) earned herself a yellow card with a foul on Maithe Lopez (Rise). In turn, Tori Tumeth (Rise) earned her own yellow card for a foul on Jorian Baucom.
As the minutes ticked by, it felt certain that the Wild would be the dominant force in this game until Camila Reyes (Rise) delivered the ball to Jessica De Filippo, who struck it into the net with just thirty seconds to spare. Grace Stordy (Wild) challenged the goal for offside; however, it was Stordy herself who kept De Filippo onside in the first place.
While undoubtedly the Calgary Wild wanted this to be an unquestioned win, they still demonstrated that they have the potential to claw their way up the standings. Meanwhile, the Rise shone in adversity, managing to pull a tie from the edge of defeat.
AFC Toronto 2-1 Ottawa Rapid
AFC Toronto broke the BMO Field curse, beating Ottawa Rapid 2-1. The stakes were high for this match, not just for the competing rivals, but also for the Montreal Roses, whose win slid them into the top spot. A win for Ottawa would have erased that shift in the standings, while a loss for AFC Toronto would have widened the gap between the third-place team and the leaders.
The first half repeated the trend of being scoreless, but also physical. There were multiple collisions between AFC Toronto and Ottawa Rapid, including a four-way collision at midfield. There were close calls for both teams, and offensively and defensively, no slack was given.
The second half, however, was where the game was truly decided. In a critical moment, Jung Min-Young (Ottawa Rapid) fouled K. Hunter, earning a yellow card and giving AFC a penalty kick. Everyone's breath was held. However, true to form, Kaylee Hunter slammed the ball past Ottawa goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais.
The second goal came from a fantastic cross by AFC Toronto's Kaylee Hunter to Sarah Stratigakis, who pushed the ball, and herself, directly into the goal to put the score at 2-0. At 86 minutes, fans knew the game was far from over, something proven in the 89th minute when Florence Belzile (Ottawa Rapid) scored to put the final tally at 2-1.
There's no doubt AFC Toronto's fans were on the edge of their seats as the game moved into stoppage time. It was devilishly close to another 2-2 tie, but after the six minutes passed, the referee blew the whistle. An unexpected and hard-earned win for AFC Toronto, while Ottawa Rapid left the field having given it all, just not quite enough.
NSL: Week 20
Saturday, September 5, 2026: Vancouver Rise vs. Halifax Tides at Swangard Stadium
Vancouver Rise and the Halifax Tides have a fierce matchup on Saturday, with a playoff berth on the line. It's anything goes this week as the Rise and Tides fight for the fourth spot in the standings.
Sunday, September 6, 2026: Ottawa Rapid vs. Montreal Roses at TD Place
Our two frontrunners are being put to the test! Will Evelyn Badu come out ready to menace the field, or will the Rapid come out ready to take their first-place position back?
Sunday, September 6, 2026: AFC Toronto vs. Calgary Wild at BMO Field
AFC Toronto has a steady and comfortable spot in the playoff berths in third position, while the Calgary Wild are still pulling up the rear. Can AFC Toronto break Calgary's victory streak, or will we see more surprises on the field?
Check back with TrueNorthFoot to see our recaps!
