AFC Toronto takes first leg of NSL semifinal in 2-0 victory over Montreal Roses

MONTREAL — AFC Toronto took the first leg of a Northern Super League semifinal with a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Roses on Saturday.

Nikayla Small struck in the seventh minute and Kaylee Hunter in the 70th for Toronto, which hosts Montreal in the second leg Nov. 9 at York Lions Stadium.

“We’re going to look to win that game as well,” Toronto coach Marko Milanovic said. “Nothing really can change in terms of our prep. We’ve approached it the same way from Game 1 in the pre-season until this game right now.”

Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde maintained a blank sheet for Toronto at Stade Boreale.

“I thought both teams had had their chances. We were fortunate enough to finish two of ours and come away with the win,” Milanovic said.

“Montreal had a few chances as well that they could have capitalized. (Sierra Cota-Yarde) had a phenomenal game in goal, and the rest of our backline also did really well, considering it was their first game playing together this year.

“Another thing that I want to point out. We’ve had so many injuries. It’s credit to our medical team that did so well throughout the week to get them ready. I would say that they’re just as responsible for this win as all of us.”

Ottawa Rapid FC and the Vancouver Rise open the other semifinal Tuesday at TD Place.

Aggregate winners of the semifinals advance to the single championship match Nov. 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field where the first NSL champion will be crowned.

Small spun in front of the Montreal box and got a right-foot shot away that beat Roses keeper Anna Karpenko. Hunter shook off Montreal defender Lucy Cappadona to score on a low shot.

“I’m happy we scored early because the conditions weren’t the greatest,” Small said. “It was cold, it was windy. The wind wasn’t in our favour. To get that early goal and settle our nerves, it was really important for us to settle down.”

Hunter, 17, ranked second in scoring in the NSL’s inaugural season with 15 goals behind Ottawa’s Delaney Pridham (18). Hunter was named rookie of the year and recently attended a Canadian team camp in Europe.

Toronto topped the NSL standings in the league’s first season with 16 wins and rode a five-match winning streak into the playoffs under Milanovic. The Roses snagged the fourth and final playoff berth with a 10-9-6 record.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2025.