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Photo Credit: Matin A.
AFC Toronto 2-1 Ottawa Rapid: Hunter Ends BMO Curse
By At the seventh time of asking, AFC Toronto has finally come out on top at BMO Field.
Last year’s NSL regular season winners edged Ottawa Rapid 2-1 in front of over 7,000 fans on Sunday to close the gap at the top of the standings.
Toronto, coming off a 2-0 win away to the Halifax Tides last time out, made just one change to their starting lineup. That came on the wing, with Zoey Burns being preferred to Nyota Katembo.
As for the Rapid, they came into Sunday afternoon’s game on a run of four league matches without a win. Their last contest saw them lose 5-1 to the Vancouver Rise at home. Two changes were made as a result, with Hannah Chown making her professional debut at the back.
The visitors had the first big chance of the match moments in. Johanne Fridlund managed to get past her marker and have a shot from close range. But, Sabrina D’Angelo got a hand on the effort, tipping it onto the post before jumping on the ball to deny a potential rebound.
Kaylee Hunter was a presence for AFC Toronto, and nearly put her team ahead in the seventh minute. Unfortunately for her, the shot found the side netting.
The opportunities were most created by the hosts in the opening half. Nikayla Small crafted a chance for Lauren Rowe after a brilliant move. However, Rowe could only sweep her effort over the bar.
Ottawa did not have many attempts on goal for much of the game, but Keera Melenhorst had a decent shot that forced a save from D’Angelo.
Burns was the next Toronto player to sky her effort after some more good work from Small. Finding the wide player, the wingback’s shot failed to trouble Melissa Dagenais.
The Toronto captain was unlucky not to break the deadlock a few minutes after the break. A long ball was brilliantly played into her path by Rowe. The first-time shot from Small curled away from goal just past Dagenais’ left-hand post.
Less than two minutes later, Colby Barnett’s corner almost went into the back of the net. Dagenais missed the ball as it came off the post, off the Ottawa keeper, and somehow back into play.
Fridlund had another attempt for the Rapid – this time from distance – that required intervention from D’Angelo. The national team goalkeeper scrambled across her goal to tip the ball onto the post and out for a corner.
The Toronto attacks continued, with Rowe’s flicked attempt from Shalina Zadorsky’s long pass going straight into Dagenais’ hands. However, there was nothing the keeper could do a few minutes later, when Hunter blasted a free kick from just outside the box into the top corner. It was just the second time that AFC scored at BMO Field.
While they did not create a ton before the goal, Ottawa came out more responsive, and nearly grabbed an equalizer. Fridlund was at it once more, beating her marker with an incredible turn, only to be thwarted by a diving Katembo, who got her body in the way to avoid bringing her keeper into it.
The match was decided with five minutes left. Coming off the second phase of a free kick, Hunter headed the ball across goal to an open Sarah Stratigakis. Dagenais missed her dive, allowing for the substitute to convert from a few yards away.
Ottawa grabbed one back with 85 seconds left in normal time. Florence Belzile blasted a shot from the middle of the box off the bar and in, beating D’Angelo and keeping the away side in the match.
Unfortunately for them, that was the closest they would get. Toronto held on for a 2-1 win and go three points behind the Montreal Roses for top spot. They will stay at home for next Sunday’s clash with the Calgary Wild.
It is now five without a win in the NSL for Ottawa, meaning they have now lost top spot. However, they could retake the lead next weekend as they return home to face the Roses in a crucial matchup.
Header Image Photo Credit: Matin A.
