AFC Toronto secured their place in league history on Friday night, edging Ottawa Rapid FC 1-0 at TD Place to claim the inaugural NSL Supporters’ Shield. In a clash of the league’s top two sides, Toronto’s first-half strike proved decisive as the visitors held firm to seal the victory and the regular season crown.

Ottawa, already playoff-bound, enjoyed long spells of pressure but couldn’t find a way past Toronto’s resilient defense. The result cements Toronto’s status as the league’s pace-setters, while Ottawa remain in second place with one final push toward November’s NSL Final.

Hunter Delivers the Winner
The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Esther Okoronkwo’s clever service found Kaylee Hunter in stride. The forward met the cross with a perfectly timed volley, powering home her 13th goal of the campaign to silence the home crowd and give Toronto the advantage.

Toronto Hold the Line
Ottawa responded with urgency, firing off 16 shots across the match and pushing numbers forward in search of an equalizer. But Toronto stayed compact, limiting clear-cut chances and relying on sharp defensive organization to preserve their narrow lead. The visitors, though outshot, made the most of their opportunity and proved once again why they sit atop the standings.

Match Stats

• Possession: Ottawa held a slight edge with 53% of the ball, pressing Toronto throughout the contest.
• Total Shots: Ottawa tallied 16 attempts compared to Toronto’s 8, but the visitors’ efficiency made the difference.
• Passing Accuracy: Ottawa completed 80% of passes to Toronto’s 77% in a tense, back-and-forth affair.

Looking Ahead
Toronto (14-6-3, 45 points) officially clinch the #1 seed and the league’s first-ever Supporters’ Shield, solidifying their path to the NSL Playoffs. Next, they head west to face Calgary Wild FC on October 4.

Ottawa (10-7-6, 36 points) remain firmly in second place and will regroup with a bye week before returning to action as both clubs look ahead to the postseason.

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