AFC Toronto continued their dominant campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Halifax Tides FC on Saturday evening at Wanderers Grounds. Esther Okoronkwo’s opportunistic finish in the first half proved the difference as Toronto stayed top of the standings, while Halifax’s struggles persisted at the bottom of the table.

Okoronkwo Capitalizes in the Box
The breakthrough arrived in the 35th minute after a frantic scramble inside the penalty area. A loose ball fell kindly to Okoronkwo, who reacted sharply to slot it past the Halifax keeper and put Toronto ahead 1-0.

Halifax pressed hard for a response, but Toronto’s back line held firm. The Tides created several promising moments, yet couldn’t find a decisive final touch to test the league leaders.

Toronto Control Despite Close Contest
While Halifax kept the scoreline tight, Toronto’s composure in midfield gave them the edge. With nearly 60% of the ball and sharper passing, the visitors controlled tempo and limited Halifax to speculative efforts. The Tides came closest late in the second half with a shot just wide, but Toronto managed the closing stages with discipline.

Match Stats

• Possession: Toronto controlled play with 58% of the ball, keeping Halifax on the back foot for much of the match.
• Total Shots: A near-even battle saw Toronto edge Halifax 12–11 in attempts, with Okoronkwo’s finish the only one to hit the mark.
• Passing Accuracy: The visitors’ 79% completion rate outshone Halifax’s 72%, highlighting Toronto’s steadier midfield presence.

Looking Ahead
The result strengthens Toronto’s grip on first place at 12-6-2 ahead of a massive top-of-the-table clash against second-place Vancouver Rise FC on September 13 during the NSL’s Super Saturday. Halifax, now 3-12-3, will look to regroup as they remain at Wanderers Grounds to host Ottawa Rapids FC on the same day.

For full match statistics, lineups, and a detailed play-by-play, visit the official NSL match page.