Ottawa Rapid FC and AFC Toronto shared the points in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at TD Place, with both goals arriving in the first half. In a clash between the league leaders and the third-place Rapid, the match delivered plenty of intensity but no second-half breakthrough, leaving each side to take just a single point.

Toronto struck first in the 21st minute through Kaylee Hunter, who rose inside the box to meet Ashley Cathro’s curling delivery. Her glancing header redirected the ball past the Ottawa keeper and silenced the home crowd as the visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead.

Ottawa pushed forward in response, and their pressure paid off just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Melanie Forbes forced a save with a low drive inside the area, only for Lee Min-A to react fastest. The striker was perfectly positioned to nod home the rebound from close range, restoring parity at 1-1 and giving the Rapid momentum heading into the break.

Rapid Push After the Break, Leaders Hold Firm
The second half saw Ottawa take command of possession and dictate much of the tempo. They pinned Toronto back for long stretches, forcing the visitors to defend in numbers. Despite several promising sequences and sustained pressure, the Rapid were unable to find a way past the disciplined Toronto back line.

Toronto, meanwhile, relied on sharp counterattacks and nearly stole the win late, but neither side could land the decisive blow in what became a chess match of attack against defence.

Match Stats
Possession: Ottawa enjoyed 56% of the ball, keeping Toronto on the back foot and dictating the flow of the match.
Total Shots: The Rapid’s attacking intent showed with 13 attempts compared to Toronto’s 7, but the league leaders absorbed the pressure and limited the damage.
Passing Accuracy: Ottawa also led in precision, completing 83% of their passes to Toronto’s 81%, reflecting the Rapid’s calm midfield control even against the top side in the table.

Looking Ahead
With the result, Ottawa move to 6-5-4 and hold third place in the standings. They now face a quick turnaround with just three days to prepare before traveling to Montréal for a meeting with the Roses on August 16. Toronto remain in first at 10-5-2 and will return home for a special CNE fixture at BMO Field against Vancouver Rise FC on August 17 after a four-day rest.

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