Ottawa Rapid FC sealed their place in the postseason in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, earning a 2-1 comeback victory over Calgary Wild FC at McMahon Stadium. In a tense, back-and-forth affair, the Rapids overturned an early deficit and struck in stoppage time to take all three points; a result that lifted them to second in the Northern Super League standings and confirmed their spot in the league’s inaugural playoffs.

The night began with Calgary’s supporters in full voice, urging their side on as the Wild fought to keep their postseason hopes alive. For most of the evening, the match hung in the balance, with both teams creating chances and trading blows. But when the final whistle blew, it was Ottawa who celebrated, their bench erupting after a gritty, resilient performance.

Early Break for Calgary
The hosts got the start they wanted in the 15th minute, when an unfortunate deflection off Ottawa’s Susanne Haaland ended up in the back of the net, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead and igniting the home crowd. The goal energized the Wild, who pressed for a second while Ottawa worked to steady themselves.

The Rapids grew into the match as the half wore on, pushing higher up the pitch and finding their rhythm in possession. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when a foul on the edge of the box gave Ottawa a dangerous free kick. Julia Benati stepped up and curled a perfectly placed strike past the Calgary wall and into the net in the 42nd minute, leveling the score at 1-1 heading into the break.

Stoppage-Time Heroics
The second half saw chances at both ends, with Calgary and Ottawa each coming close to breaking the deadlock. The match seemed destined to end in a draw until deep into stoppage time, when Florence Belzile picked out DB Pridham with a clever pass across the face of goal. Pridham made no mistake, slotting home the winner in the 92nd minute to silence the home fans and send Ottawa into jubilation on the pitch.

Calgary pushed forward in the dying moments in search of an equalizer, but Ottawa’s back line held firm to secure a vital victory on the road.

Match Stats

• Possession: Ottawa edged the battle for the ball, holding 54% of possession and dictating the tempo for long stretches.
• Total Shots: Calgary narrowly led with 16 attempts to Ottawa’s 15, but the Rapids were clinical when it mattered most.
• Passing Accuracy: Ottawa’s 82% passing success rate helped them stay composed under pressure and build sustained attacks.

Looking Ahead
The win moves Ottawa to 9-6-6 (33 points) and guarantees their place in the four-team Championship Playoffs. They’ll look to build on the momentum when they travel to Vancouver to face Vancouver Rise FC on September 20 in a match that could shape the final seeding.

For Calgary (6-13-2, 20 points), the heartbreaking loss keeps them on the outside of the playoff picture. Their fate now depends on results elsewhere: if Montréal win on Thursday and Vancouver avoid defeat on Saturday, Calgary will be eliminated. Otherwise, they’ll remain alive heading into their September 27 trip to face Montréal Roses FC in what could be a must-win clash.

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