It was supposed to be a night of celebration for Vancouver Rise FC, but instead, AFC Toronto dampened the mood with a 3-2 win over the defending NSL champions.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 4,732 fans who got to see the Rise hoist the Diana B. Matheson Trophy and raise their champions banner, Toronto fought from 2-1 behind at the half to claim the first win of the 2026 NSL season.
A debut goal from Camila Reyes and another from last season’s team goal leader Latifah Abdu were not enough to claim the match.
Rise head coach Anja Heiner-Møller said they are “a team that’s trying to stick together and find out the solutions.”
“We produced chances throughout the game,” she said. “Of course, we were also struggling. But for me, that’s a team early in the season, a new team that shows strength, and I’m really happy about that.”
Despite the Rise’s pre-match festivities, it was AFC Toronto that got started early. They were a constant thorn in the Rise’s side, particularly from the left channel through Colby Barnett.
Zoe Burns put the visitors up in the eighth minute. The midfielder was the late player into the 18-yard box and benefited from a low cross in from the left.
Morgan McAslan had dealt with two earlier Toronto chances but was unable to reposition this time.
Vancouver equalized in the 18th minute on a rare foray into Toronto’s half. Reyes bagged a debut goal, pouncing on a loose ball at the edge of the 18-yard box.
The shot rang off the underside of the crossbar and bounced just inside the goal area, breathing life into the early quiet of Swangard Stadium.
The Rise took the lead just before the half. Abdu stole the ball at the centre circle and carried it into Toronto’s 18-yard box.
The Rise striker’s shot in the 41st minute was parried by Sierra Cota-Yarde, but it was not enough to stop its path into the net.
Toronto kept its pressure up in the second half, particularly through Esther Okoronkwo, who was causing havoc on the flanks.
But it was her free kick in the 61st minute that led to the tying goal. Sailing over players lined up on the edge of the 18-yard box, it was brought down by Sarah Stratigakis and hit up and over McAslan.
Okoronkwo added the game winner in the 71st minute. A Toronto corner came out to Ashley Cathro at the edge of the 18-yard box, but her shot did not make it to the net. Okoronkwo jumped on the loose ball, getting her body in between it and the Rise’s defenders.
Her shot put it beyond the reach of McAslan, giving Toronto the final celebration on the night.
Rise suffers from Toronto’s pressure
Toronto were able to keep the Rise hemmed inside their own half for large swaths of the match. With Kennedy Falknor and Shannon Woeller injured, the Rise were limited in their backline options.
Okoronkwo was a constant threat in 1v1s, on the right against Yuka Okamota and with even more success in the second half on the left against Jaylyn Wright.
Heiner-Møller said a high backline is how they want to play, but did concede it was not as effective in the second half.
“We had fewer appearances than normal where we were on the ball, where we could keep the ball with possession in the team. We want to do that better next game,” Heiner-Møller said.
Heiner-Møller pointed to switches through the middle as being the area requiring work, as that is where she felt chances are most likely to come from.
Up next
The Rise begin a three-match road trip, starting in Montreal. They face the Roses on Saturday, May 2.
Kickoff for that match is at 4 p.m. PST.
