Vancouver Rise FC continued their climb up the standings on Wednesday night with a gritty 2-1 win over first-place AFC Toronto at Swangard Stadium. A pair of goals from midfielder Samantha Chang powered the Rise to their fifth win of the season and capped off a statement performance in front of their home fans.
It was AFC Toronto who struck first, silencing the crowd early. Kaylee Hunter opened the scoring in the 9th minute, finishing off a tidy move from the visitors to give them a 1-0 lead and early momentum.
But Vancouver didn’t stay down for long. In the 19th minute, Chang found space in the box and buried the equalizer, sending the stadium to its feet. Sixteen minutes later, she doubled her tally and the Rise’s total, with a composed strike in the 35th minute, capitalizing on a period of sustained pressure from the hosts.
Vancouver’s midfield set the tone from there, managing tempo and closing down passing lanes to keep Toronto from regaining control.
Chang’s Brilliance Sparks Rise Resilience
Despite trailing in most statistical categories, including possession (49%) and total shots (8 to Toronto’s 13), Vancouver showed clinical finishing and tactical maturity to see out the match. Toronto pushed hard in the second half, winning the ball high and creating chances in transition, but the Rise held firm.
Goalkeeper Morgan McAslan made a string of key saves down the stretch, and the Vancouver backline stood tall as Toronto poured on pressure in the final 15 minutes.
In the end, Chang’s first-half brace proved the difference as Vancouver secured all three points in a tightly contested match between two of the league’s most dynamic sides.
Match Stats
Possession: Toronto edged the ball with 51%, using short passes to build from the back.
Total Shots: Toronto led with 13 shots to Vancouver’s 8, but the Rise converted their chances when it mattered most.
Passing Accuracy: Toronto narrowly led at 74%, with Vancouver close behind at 72%, with the match being an even battle of the midfield
Looking Ahead
Vancouver Rise FC now sits 5-5-3 on the season and holds onto fourth place as they continue to build momentum heading into August. They’ll stay home to face Ottawa Rapid FC as part of the league’s inaugural Super Saturday on August 2.
AFC Toronto, despite the loss, remains atop the table with an 8-5-1 record and will look to bounce back when they travel to Calgary to take on Calgary Wild FC, also on Super Saturday.
For full match statistics, lineups, and a play-by-play feed, visit the official NSL game page.
The countdown to history is on.
Want to be there when the first-ever NSL champion is crowned? Sign up now for exclusive pre-sale access to the NSL Final at BMO Field on November 15.
Don’t miss your chance to witness history. Register for pre-sale tickets →