NSL Final: Montréal Roses and AFC Toronto prepare for blockbuster championship showdown

NSL Final: Montréal Roses and AFC Toronto prepare for blockbuster championship showdown The 2026 Northern Super League (NSL) final is set. Montréal Roses and AFC Toronto are set to meet in Ottawa on November 14, with the Diana B. Matheson Cup up for grabs after two very different semifinal second legs. Toronto booked their place (again!) with an emphatic 4–0 win over Ottawa Rapid at TD Place, completing an 8–2 aggregate victory. Montréal, meanwhile, held the reigning champions Vancouver Rise FC to a 2–2 draw at home, doing enough to protect the advantage built in the first leg and advance 5–2 on aggregate. Toronto turn on the style against Ottawa AFC Toronto left little room for doubt in the second leg, producing a ruthless attacking display to end Ottawa’s playoff hopes. The visitors needed just six minutes to take the lead. Kaylee Hunter finished off a move created by Lena Silano, giving Toronto an early foothold and extending its aggregate advantage. Unfortunately, the goal saw Ottawa goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais go down with an injury that required a lengthy stoppage and eventual ambulance assistance. Ottawa had little time to dwell on the injury as Hunter struck again in the 29th minute, this time converting Zoë Hasenauer’s assist. The young forward’s second goal put Toronto firmly in control, but there was still time for another before the break. Silano got on the scoresheet herself in the 44th minute, finishing Lauren Rowe’s delivery to make it 3–0. Embed from Getty Images The first half had effectively settled the tie, with Toronto carrying a commanding 7–2 aggregate lead into the dressing room. Ottawa’s task became even harder after the restart. Nikayla Small added a fourth in the 52nd minute, once again with Rowe providing the assist. It was another example of Toronto’s attacking depth, with four different players contributing to the scoreline. Despite having 49 percent possession, Toronto made its opportunities count. Ottawa actually finished with more shots (22 to 17), but Toronto registered six attempts on target compared to Ottawa’s four. The result sends Toronto into its second NSL Final appearance. After falling short against Vancouver in the inaugural final, they will now look to lift the Diana B. Matheson Cup against Montréal. Montréal hold their nerve against Vancouver Montréal Roses took a different route to the final, even if the destination was the same. Having won the first leg 3–0, this year’s Supporters’ Shield winners entered the return fixture with a comfortable cushion. Vancouver Rise showed little interest in accepting an early exit. The hosts struck first through Noémi Paquin in the 39th minute, with Evelyn Badu providing the assist. The goal gave Montréal another boost, but Vancouver responded almost immediately. Player of the Year Jessica De Filippo equalized in the 41st minute, controlling the ball before dinking it over the keeper. The goal kept the visitors’ hopes alive and gave them something to build on. Embed from Getty Images The momentum shifted again just before half-time. Latifah Abdu put Vancouver ahead in the 45th minute, finishing a move set up by Josie Longhurst. Suddenly, the Rise had a 2–1 lead on the night and had given Montréal something to think about. The second half brought another twist. Montréal introduced Tanya Boychuk in the 58th minute, and the Ukrainian international made an immediate impact. She set up Lisa Pechersky for the equalizer in the 72nd minute, restoring parity and giving the hosts some breathing room. Vancouver continued to push, but Montréal managed the closing stages well enough to see out the draw and secure its place in the final. The numbers reflected a relatively even contest. Montréal had 52 percent possession and registered 14 shots, three of which were on target. Vancouver managed 16 attempts, with seven testing the goalkeeper. Both sides won four corners. Still, the damage had largely been done in the first leg. Montréal’s 3–0 victory in Vancouver proved to be Rise’s Sisyphus, allowing the Roses to absorb the second-leg pressure without surrendering their aggregate advantage. For Vancouver, the result brings its playoff campaign to an end. Despite a spirited response after the opening-leg defeat, the Rise could not quite produce the comeback required. A new chapter for the Diana B. Matheson Cup The final brings together two clubs that have taken different paths through the postseason. AFC Toronto will be looking to turn their second appearance on the biggest stage into a first championship win. Their attacking performances against Ottawa offer plenty of encouragement heading into the weekend. Montréal, meanwhile, arrives as the league’s regular-season leader. After claiming the Supporters’ Shield, the Roses now have the chance to complete a historic campaign by adding the championship trophy. It will also be a meeting between two clubs with plenty to prove. Toronto wants to finish what they could not in their previous final appearance, while Montréal is chasing its first NSL title. The second season of the Northern Super League will conclude on November 14 at TD Place in Ottawa. One club will leave with the Diana B. Matheson Cup. The other will have to wait another year. Related articles from Her Football Hub: NWSL quarterfinals: Utah Royals scores first playoff goal, Jess Fishlock plays last game for Seattle Reign NSL 2026 Playoffs: Toronto takes 4-2 lead over Ottawa while Montréal piles pressure on Vancouver NWSL Week 27: Gotham lift first Shield as Seattle seize final playoff spot