Latifah Abdu netted two goals in the opening half, propelling the Vancouver Rise to a 2-1 triumph over Ottawa Rapid FC at home in the Northern Super League semifinal first leg on Tuesday. Ottawa’s Delaney Pridham narrowed the gap in the second half, setting the stage for the upcoming second leg at Ottawa’s TD Place. Meanwhile, AFC Toronto, the league leaders, hold a 2-0 advantage over the Montreal Roses going into the second leg on Sunday.
The winners of the semifinals, determined by aggregate scores, will progress to the championship match on November 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field, where the inaugural champion of the Canadian women’s professional soccer league will be crowned.
Abdu capitalized on a defensive error by Ottawa in the 14th minute, seizing the opportunity to score as Ottawa’s keeper attempted a pass out of the box. She struck again in the 21st minute with a well-placed left-footed shot. Pridham pulled one back for Ottawa in the 66th minute, showcasing her goal-scoring prowess in the playoffs after leading the league with 19 goals in the regular season.
Ottawa’s coach, Katrine Pederson, expressed disappointment with her team’s first-half performance but praised their improved showing in the second half, acknowledging the challenge posed by Vancouver’s strong performance. The second leg promises an intense battle as both teams strive for a spot in the championship match.