AFC Toronto extended its winning run to three games with a 3-1 victory over Halifax Tides FC as the team celebrated Pride Saturday afternoon at York Lions Stadium.
“Today was one of the more complete times when we were in control of the possession of the ball,” said Toronto assistant coach Sylvia Forbes. “You could see that we were in control of the game regardless of the fact that we had been scored on.
“This was one of those times where the players owned that fact, and they were confident that they had been playing well up to that point, and they began to live in that moment”
Early own-goal opens the scoring
In the 6th minute, Halifax found the opening goal of the match. Collecting the ball along the touchline, Kiley Norkus sent a pass towards Sydney Kennedy, who cleverly touched it around Kaela Hansen into space. Driving to the top of the box, Kennedy sent a teasing ball into the box towards Milly Clegg, who was marked by Toronto defender Sarah Rollins. Trying to get to the ball first, however, Rollins deflected the ball into her net to put Halifax in front 1-0.
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In the 7th minute, Toronto was close to an equalizer as Emma Regan sent in a corner to Hansen, but her shot was blocked off the line by Karima Lemire.
Toronto had another great opportunity in the 18th minute. With pressure from Okoronkwo, Halifax goalkeeper Erin McLeod gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch to Colby Barnett. Barnett took a touch and sent in a floating ball that went over the head of Annika Leslie, towards Okoronkwo, but her shot in tight was brilliantly saved by McLeod.
Toronto responds with an equalizer
In the 22nd minute, Toronto found its equalizing goal. In the middle of the pitch, Victoria Pickett found Hunter with space, where she drove to the top of the box and hit a shot from distance that sailed past McLeod into the back of the net to equalize the game at 1-1.
Both teams were dangerous coming up the field, but they struggled to find the last pass in the final third. Halifax’s midfield of Megumi Nakamura, Kennedy, and Lemire combined well to play through Toronto’s lines, while Toronto’s Nikky Small, Hunter, and Okoronkwo displayed individual skill to get past defenders one-on-one.
Toronto continued its attacking pressure late in the first half. In the 37th minute, Regan drove to the top of the box and sent a dangerous ball into Hunter, but Halifax defender Sara Olai made a crucial block at the last moment to deny the shot. A minute later, Small drove across the top of the box and hit a shot from distance that deflected just wide of the net.
In the 41st minute, a free kick from distance by Okoronkwo was hit with pace and had to be collected by McLeod. A minute later, Nakamura sent a teasing ball into Clegg, forcing Toronto goalkeeper Sofia Manner to come quickly off her line to deny the opportunity.
Second-half attacking pressure from Toronto
At half-time, Halifax made a substitution in goal as Anika Tóth came in for McLeod. At the start of the second half, Toronto came out quick on the attack. In the 49th minute, Hunter secured her second goal of the afternoon. Collecting the ball in the middle of the pitch off a long ball from Croix Soto, Okoronkwo threaded a pass between the Halifax centre-backs into space to find Hunter. Driving to the top of the box, Hunter hit a shot that bounced off the outstretched hand of Tóth, looping into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Asked about the goalkeeper substitution at half-time, Halifax head coach Lewis Page said post-match, “There’s a bad bruise on the bottom of [McLeod]’s foot, we hoped that she could play the full 90 minutes, but unfortunately she was unable to.”
Moments later, in the 53rd minute, Hunter returned the favour to Okoronkwo to extend Toronto’s lead. Collecting a long ball from Hansen in the middle of the pitch, Hunter sent a ball into space that led to a breakaway for Okoronkwo. Driving into the box, Okoronkwo sidestepped Tóth and calmly passed the ball into the net to extend Toronto’s lead 3-1.
With Okoronkwo’s fourth goal of the season and Hunter’s brace, Toronto’s attacking duo is now tied for second in league scoring.
In the 65th minute, Regan had a great chance from the top of the box, but her shot forced a great diving save from Tóth.
In the 67th minute, Halifax had a dangerous chance off a set piece. A free-kick from Lemire was sent dangerously into the box to Marika Guay, but the ball was safely picked up by Manner.
Halifax had another opportunity in the 89th minute. A ball from Anne-Valerie Seto was sent into Kennedy, who drove into the box, but her shot was crucially blocked in tight by Hansen.
In stoppage time, Toronto had one last opportunity as substitute April Lantaigne had a shot from distance that went just over the bar.
On the team’s first comeback win, Forbes spoke of the team’s resilience post-match. “We remember how we feel in the tough moments, and then, we remember how we feel in these good moments. We understand that the work hasn’t stopped. We expect the players, we expect us as a staff to get better each and every week. And the goal remains the same – this is a long season with a lot of really good teams in the league, and we enjoy these moments. Then we get back to work.”
Commenting on her player of the match performance, Hunter said post-game, “I’m super happy about [the match], I try to come into every game and do the best I can to help the team. And scoring… that’s just like a positive from it. Everyone loves hitting the back of the net.”
Following the opening own-goal, Soto was asked about the team’s regrouping and defensive efforts. “We knew that we had to have each other’s backs from the beginning of the game. Sometimes stuff happens, and we just have to stick together and keep chugging along. I think we showed that we responded super well after [the own goal]happened. We didn’t let it get to us. We just shook it off, and then we’re able to continue to play.”
On the support from young fans and looking up to the players, Soto added, “I feel like it’s really important for us to remember where we came from, and when we were in the stands, it’s the full circle moment. I think it’s really cool to see the next generation watching us.”
Both teams’ next match will be at home after the international break. Halifax Tides FC will host Calgary Wild FC at Wanderers Grounds on Monday, July 7th, while AFC Toronto will host Ottawa Rapid FC on Thursday, July 10.
