Halifax Tides FC notched their first victory of the season on Tuesday night, rallying from an early deficit to defeat Ottawa Rapid FC 2-1 at Wanderers Grounds in front of a vibrant home crowd.

Early Advantage for Ottawa

The visitors struck first, capitalizing on a strong start and an early set-piece opportunity. Olivia Scott opened the scoring in the 14th minute, rising above the Halifax back line to nod home a well-placed header from the center of the box. It was Scott’s second goal of the campaign and gave Ottawa a deserved lead following a dominant opening stretch.

Ottawa controlled the tempo through much of the first half, pinning Halifax in their own end and threatening through wide areas. The Rapid entered the break with a one-goal advantage and a 55% share of possession.

Momentum Shifts in the Second Half

Halifax responded with renewed energy after the interval. The home side’s persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Megumi Nakamura found the equalizer. The Japanese midfielder pounced on a loose ball at the top of the six-yard box and calmly slotted a right-footed finish past the keeper to level the match.

With the crowd behind them, the Tides continued to press, and their breakthrough came in the 74th minute. Icelandic international Gunnhildur “Gunny” Jónsdóttir delivered the decisive moment with a composed strike from the center of the area, finishing off a flowing attacking sequence to give Halifax a 2-1 lead.

Closing It Out

Despite a late push from Ottawa, Halifax’s back line held firm. The Tides managed the final minutes with discipline and defensive composure, sealing a much-needed win that lifts them off the bottom of the table and injects new life into their campaign.

Match Stats

• Possession: Ottawa held the majority with 55%, while Halifax finished with 45%.
• Total Shots: Halifax outshot Ottawa 13 to 9, including a 6-4 edge in shots on target.
• Passing Accuracy: Ottawa completed 391 passes at 83% accuracy, while Halifax completed 330 at a 77% clip.

Looking Ahead

The result moves Halifax to 1-5-1 on the season and signals a potential turning point as they prepare to visit Toronto next Saturday, June 21. Ottawa, now 3-2-2, will look to bounce back when they return home this weekend to face Montreal on June 14. .

For full match statistics, lineups, and a play-by-play feed, and info on how to tune into the next match, visit the official NSL game page.

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