The Northern Super League playoff race is completely upside down right now. Weeks 18 and 19 absolutely delivered, proving that every single point matters in this late season push for the top.
Vancouver’s Stunner and Toronto’s Grind
Vancouver came out swinging in Week 18, throwing down a massive 5-1 demolition of league leaders Ottawa. Seriously, nobody saw that coming! The Rise marched into TD Place and put on a show. After a cagey first half, Alex Lamontagne broke the deadlock in stoppage time on her first NSL start ever. Then, bam! She doubled Vancouver’s lead less than 20 seconds into the second half for a quick brace. Anna Bout, Camila Reyes, and Maithé López piled on three more. Ottawa got one back through Elise Bell, but the damage was done. Elsewhere, AFC Toronto snagged a 2-0 road win against Halifax, with Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter (penalty) sealing a clean sheet thanks to Sabs D’Angelo in goal. Montréal and Calgary battled to a 2-2 draw, keeping Calgary’s unbeaten run alive. But let’s be real, Vancouver’s shocking rise was the headline.
Montréal Takes Top Spot While Vancouver Fights
But Week 19 brought its own wild ride. Montréal took full advantage of Halifax’s slip, climbing into first place themselves with a tight 1-0 victory over the Tides at Stade Saputo. And get this, they did it in front of a record-breaking 17,000 fans! Talk about a home crowd fueling the fire. The game stayed scoreless until the 67th minute when Halifax’s Sheyenne Allen got a second yellow card, leaving them with 10 players. Montréal capitalized, with Mimi Alidou delivering a dangerous short corner and Anne-Valérie Seto heading it home in the 76th minute. They held strong for the win. Meanwhile, Vancouver proved they’re not a one-week wonder, fighting until the last second for a point against Calgary. Jess De Filippo delivered an absolute clutch 95th-minute header to snatch that dramatic 2-2 draw. The Battle of Ontario also went down, with AFC Toronto edging Ottawa 2-1 after the Rapid tried to mount a late fightback. These teams are not giving up an inch!
So what does all this mean? The NSL playoff picture is tighter than ever, with Montréal now sitting at the top and Vancouver making some serious noise in fourth place. Every match from here on out is going to be pure chaos. With record crowds showing up and teams like Vancouver pulling off last-gasp heroics, you know this playoff race is going to be one for the books. Get ready, because the final weeks of the season are going to be absolutely insane!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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