Vancouver Rise FC secured the final playoff berth on Saturday afternoon, earning a 1-1 draw against Halifax Tides FC at Wanderers Grounds. Despite controlling the match from start to finish, Vancouver were forced to share the points after Halifax struck early to delight the home crowd.

The result locks Vancouver into the postseason as the fourth and final qualifier, while Halifax, already eliminated, showed resilience and flashes of promise in front of their supporters.

Clegg Opens Her Account
Halifax stunned the visitors in the 14th minute when Milly Clegg netted her first NSL goal. Her effort clipped the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in, sending the Wanderers Grounds into celebration and putting Halifax ahead 1-0.

Ward Levels the Score
Vancouver continued to pile on the pressure and were finally rewarded midway through the second half. Holly Ward connected sweetly with a volley inside the box in the 62nd minute, driving the ball into the corner to bring the match level. The equalizer was enough to guarantee Vancouver’s spot in the postseason.

Match Stats

• Possession: Vancouver dominated the ball with 65% control, forcing Halifax to defend deep.
• Total Shots: The visitors unleashed 23 efforts compared to Halifax’s 5, but couldn’t find a winner.
• Passing Accuracy: Vancouver’s sharpness showed with 82% passing success to Halifax’s 71%.

Looking Ahead
Vancouver (9-7-6, 33 points) clinch the fourth seed in the NSL Playoffs and will enjoy a bye week before turning their focus to the rest of the season and November’s semifinal series.

Halifax (3-13-6, 15 points) remain in sixth place and will remain at home for their October 2 match against Montréal Roses FC, hoping to finish the season on a high.

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