Latifah Abdu netted two goals in the opening half to propel the Vancouver Rise to a 2-1 victory against Ottawa Rapid FC in the first leg of the Northern Super League semifinals held at their home ground. Ottawa’s Delaney Pridham narrowed the margin with a goal in the second half, setting the stage for the upcoming second leg at Ottawa’s TD Place.
In the parallel semifinal, AFC Toronto, the league leaders, secured a 2-0 advantage from the initial encounter against the Montreal Roses, gearing up for the decisive match on Sunday. The winners of the aggregate scores from the semifinals will progress to the championship clash slated for November 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field, where the inaugural champion of the new Canadian women’s professional soccer league will be determined.
Abdu capitalized on a defensive error by Ottawa in the 14th minute, seizing the opportunity to score as Ottawa’s goalkeeper, Melissa Dagenais, made a misjudged pass from the box at Swangard Stadium. Abdu added another goal in the 21st minute with a skillful play, creating space to slot in a left-footed shot.
Pridham clawed back for Ottawa in the 66th minute, eluding Vancouver’s defender before slotting a low left-footed shot past the Rise’s goalkeeper, Morgan McAslan. Pridham, the leading goal scorer of the NSL’s inaugural season with 19 goals, marked her first playoff goal in the match.
Ottawa’s coach, Katrine Pederson, expressed discontent with her team’s first-half performance, acknowledging Vancouver’s dominance. She praised her team’s improved second-half showing, highlighting their enhanced creativity and goal-scoring opportunities.
