A dominant performance from Esther Okoronkwo has powered AFC Toronto into the inaugural Northern Super League championship final, ending the playoff run of the Montreal Roses in decisive fashion. The regular-season champions secured their spot with a 4-1 victory in the second leg of their semifinal series, played on Monday, November 10, 2025, at a snow-covered York Lions Stadium.
A Blizzard of Goals
The match, which was delayed a day due to significant snowfall in the Toronto area, was effectively decided in the first half. Okoronkwo, the 28-year-old attacking force for Toronto, put on a masterclass, scoring three times in the opening 26 minutes. She found the net in the 6th, 20th, and 26th minutes, single-handedly dismantling the Roses' defense and giving her team an insurmountable lead.
After such a devastating start, the visiting Montreal squad faced a nearly impossible task to overcome the aggregate deficit. The conditions and the scoreline left them with what could be described as not a snowball's chance of mounting a comeback against the league's top team.
Sealing the Victory
Montreal managed to get on the board in the 74th minute with a goal from Tanya Boychuk, offering a brief moment of hope. However, AFC Toronto quickly extinguished any thoughts of a late rally. Lauren Rowe added a fourth goal for the hosts in the 84th minute, cementing the victory after Montreal goalkeeper Anna Karpenko was unable to make the stop.
This second-leg win followed a 2-0 victory for Toronto in Montreal on November 1st, where goals from Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter had given them a comfortable cushion heading into the return match. The aggregate score for the two-game series finished at a convincing 6-1 for AFC Toronto.
On to the Championship
With this commanding performance, AFC Toronto advances to the NSL Final this Saturday. They will face the Vancouver Rise, who secured their place in a dramatic penalty shootout after their semifinal series against Ottawa ended tied 3-3 on aggregate.
The historic inaugural championship match is set to take place at BMO Field in Toronto. Okoronkwo, who tallied eight goals and eight assists during the regular season, has now achieved her goal of reaching the league's final stage, leading her team with a playoff performance for the ages.
