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Recap: Vancouver Rise Snatches 1-1 Draw From AFC Toronto
By For matchday four of the Northern Super League, Vancouver Rise FC was at York Lions Stadium for its first-ever road game following three matches at home.
AFF Toronto’s second home game at the venue ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon, with a crowd of 2,650 taking in the game.
The first half was evenly contested, with both sides creating chances and looking for the go-ahead goal. Toronto would have many shots on target, with Vancouver on the other end struggling finishing the first half and ending it with zero shots on target.
The second half would be deciding point, with Toronto controlling the pace of the game, building pressure in attack. Substitute Aoi Kizaki would score a beautiful strike following a corner kick from Colby Barnett in the 84th minute, making it 1-0 for Toronto.
“Aoi is one of our best footballers, for sure, technically outstanding and with a great IQ,”said AFC Toronto coach Milanovic after the game.
“She’s still getting used to the North American game a little bit with the physicality and transitions. Once she gets used to that, we feel like she’s gonna be very impactful for us.”
Kizaki joined AFC Toronto from Tokyo Verdy Beleza – the most decorated top flight professional women’s team in Japan.
The Rise FC would answer back in the final minute of added time, as Mississauga native Jessica De Filippo would head home the equalizing goal from a corner kick, putting it past goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde on the her first NSL start and appearance.
Sierra would earn her first appearance after goalkeeper Sofia Manner sustained a minor concussion during training and is recovering and undergoing concussion protocol.
Unavailable for the matchup against Vancouver alongside Manner were Jade Kovacevic, Mya Jones, Leah Pais, and Amanda West (SEI).
The club added goalkeeper Noelle Henning on a youth development contract to fill the bench behind Cota-Yarde.
“Obviously it feels like a loss for us because I felt we controlled the second half. We created
tons of chances, scored, and just one mistake there at the end,” added head coach Marko Milanovic.
“We conceded quite a bit on set pieces, something we definitely have to address. But overall, I was very happy with the performance, especially from about 20 minutes into the first half on – and especially in the second half.”
AFC Toronto’s next game is back on the road, with the club headed to the East Coast to take on Halifax Tides FC on Saturday 17 at 1:00PM ET.
The Rise continue their road trip going to Ottawa to take on the Rapid FC on Thursday May 15th at 7:00PM ET.