By Bolarinwa Olajide, Toronto Canada
AFC Toronto stormed back from 2–1 down to beat Vancouver Rise 3–2 in a dramatic, momentumswinging season opener, powered by standout performances from Zoe Burns, Sarah Stratigakis, and Player of the Match Esther Okoronkwo.
The night ignited early. Just eight minutes in, Toronto struck first when Zoe Burns pounced on a cut back from Sarah Stratigakis in the box to make it 1–0.
But Vancouver responded quickly. In the 17th minute, Maria Camila Reyes leveled the score with a composed finish, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The Rise weren’t done. Latifah Abdu put them ahead 2–1 in the 40th minute, completing a sharp attacking sequence that sliced through Toronto’s back line.
At halftime, Vancouver looked energized, Toronto looked rattled, and the stadium buzzed with belief that The Rise were about to start the season with a statement win.
However, the visitors came out with renewed intensity, pressing higher and moving the ball with purpose.
Their breakthrough came in the 61st minute. Off a beautifully delivered free kick from Nigeria’s Esther Okoronkwo, Sarah Stratigakis timed her run perfectly and slotted home the equalizer. 2–2, and suddenly the momentum flipped.
In the 72nd minute, Toronto earned a corner. The ball ricocheted dangerously through the box, and there was Esther Okoronkwo, reacting first to smash the ball into the back of the net and make it 3-2.
It was the kind of finish that defines big players in big moments – calm, clinical, ruthless.
Okoronkwo’s night (a goal and an assist) earned her Player of the Match award and underlined why she’s one of the league’s most influential attackers.
Vancouver threw everything forward in the final minutes, with substitutions, long balls, late runs – but Toronto’s defense held firm. The Rise couldn’t find a way past the organized back line, and the visitors saw out the win with maturity and grit.
AFC Toronto Head coach Marko Milanovic on the comeback: “I thought it required a lot of character to come back. We were in a tough spot at one point, down 2-1, but the girls found a way, and I’m really proud of that.”
AFC Toronto Captain Nikayla Small, on the team’s goals for the season: “Obviously this team has big goals. We achieved a lot last year, yes, being in its inaugural season, but we strive formore. I think moving into every game, we take it one game at a time. So, it started here, we won this game, and then we are working on to the next. We’re not looking too far to the future.”
Sarah Stratigakis, on her second season with AFC Toronto:“I think it’s a really special group. You can see from how we play, how we move the ball really well, yeah, I think it’s just thechemistry we have. And we’re going to keep going the same forward.”
Toronto returns to BMO Field next for their home openeragainst the Halifax Tides on Sunday, May 3. Vancouver Rise will travel to Montreal to face Montreal Roses on May 2.