The first-ever Northern Super League champion was crowned on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at BMO Field, where Vancouver Rise FC came from behind to defeat AFC Toronto 2–1 in the inaugural NSL Final presented by Toyota. Before a packed Toronto crowd, and amid multiple lightning delays, Vancouver delivered a poised, disciplined performance to secure the league’s first championship.

AFC Toronto struck first in the 20th minute with a well-executed attacking sequence. Sarah Stratigakis slipped a sharp pass into the box from the right side, finding Kaylee Hunter in stride. Hunter created just enough space to fire a right-footed shot from deep on the right side of the penalty area, curling the ball past the keeper to give Toronto a 1–0 lead.

The match remained open and competitive through halftime despite the increasingly unstable weather. When play resumed after delays caused by lightning in the area, Vancouver adjusted immediately and began to settle into a steadier rhythm.

Their breakthrough came in the 54th minute. Off a Vancouver corner, Nikki Stanton delivered a bending ball that carried through a crowded six-yard box and found the close side of the net that brought the match level at 1–1 and shifted the momentum sharply.

Toronto, who finished the match with a significant statistical edge, 16–8 in total shots and 8–3 in shots on target, continued to push forward. But in the 68th minute, Vancouver punished a moment of defensive space on the counterattack. Holly Ward collected the ball on the left side of the box and struck a clean left-footed shot into the far corner, giving Rise FC a 2–1 lead that they would not relinquish.

The final stretch saw Toronto apply sustained pressure, but Vancouver’s defensive unit held firm through the rain and intermittent clear patches. Possession finished evenly at 50 percent each, but Vancouver’s precision in key moments made the difference. When the final whistle sounded, Vancouver Rise FC stood as the inaugural NSL champions, earning their place in league history with a composed, resilient performance in challenging conditions.