Okoronkwo’s hat-trick secures AFC Toronto a spot in NSL final

Esther Okoronkwo scored the Northern Super League's fastest hat-trick on Monday. (Matthew Joseph/INTERMISSION SPORTS)

By Daniel Carrero

Photos by Matthew Joseph

AFC Toronto secured a spot in the first-ever Northern Super League (NSL) final after defeating Montreal Roses FC 4-1 in the second leg of the semifinal on Monday afternoon at York Lions Stadium (YLS).

Fans at YLS had to delay their excitement for kick-off after the original match was postponed due to Sunday’s inclement weather. The league ultimately announced the game’s rescheduling despite the efforts of fans who helped shovel snow for half an hour.

“I love them, like yesterday and today, watching fans, parents, literally anyone who wanted to help just to see that game,” said AFC midifielder Nikki Small. “That's who we play for.”

In the first leg of the semifinal at Stade Boréale, an early goal from Small and a goal from forward Kaylee Hunter coming from the bench in the second half gave Toronto the 2-0 advantage. In the second leg, despite Montreal’s efforts and a tally by Tanya Boychuk, a hat-trick from forward Esther Okoronkwo and a goal from Lauren Rowe extended the global score to 6-1 and sent Toronto to the final to battle for the first-ever Diana B. Matheson Cup.

“Congratulations to AFC Toronto. They were amazing today. Like always, they capitalize on their chances, and they were clinical in front of the goal,” said Roses’ head coach Robert Rositoiu. “Overall, it’s more AFC Toronto, who really came strong, and were the better team.”

For the starting 11, Toronto and Montreal didn’t make big changes from the first leg. Toronto—who’s dealing with an injury crisis in the back line—played Victoria Pickett, Ashley Cathro and Sarah Rollins in their back-three, Rollins being the only natural centerback available. Montreal displayed their usual 4-4-2, with Boychuk back in the lineup after missing out on the first 45 minutes of the first leg.

Toronto kicked off the game at full throttle and gained an early lead in the seventh minute.

Pickett placed a pinpoint pass over the top to Hunter, who carried the ball before passing it to Okoronkwo. The Nigerian international only had to bump the ball into the net, opening the scoring.

“Today we missed, simple as that. We weren't good enough in that first half,” Rositoiu. “It's not easy to start the game with the 2-0 in mind after the first goal that comes so early, it reminds you that it's more 3-0 than 1-0. So that's not easy to cope with.”

It didn’t take long for Okoronkwo to extend Toronto’s lead. After Hunter was fouled on the edge of the box in the 21st minute, Okoronkwo took a slow shot that ricocheted off defender Lucy Cappadona and goalie Anna Karpenko and found its way into the net. 

To extend the lead to 3-0—and earn the NSL’s fastest hat-trick in this inaugural season—Okoronkwo scored her third in the 27th minute. The goal came after a failed pass from Okoronkwo landed back at her feet. She drove the ball forward and bodied three different Montreal defenders before shooting into the net with her left foot.

“[Okoronkwo] had a phenomenal game tonight and she had a great season, but I thought it was a complete team effort,” said Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic. “We know what Okoronkwo can do, she's a big player, and then usually delivers in big games—like we saw in the African Cup of Nations, now in this semifinal and hopefully in the final as well.”

Beyond Okoronkwo orchestrating everything in attack, AFC’s defensive structural efforts disallowed everything Montreal tried—they ultimately held the Roses to just one chance on target in the first half. 

“I thought they were incredible…Pickett is not a centerback, I thought she did really well today—on the ball and off the ball. Rollins, stepping in—she's a 2005 player—to lead the back line the way she did to control the distances, the way she did to communicate,” said Milanovic. “Really proud of all three. And obviously our wing backs, [Colby Barnett and Zoe Burns], they completed that unit really nicely.”

For the second half, Montreal needed to react, but the weather didn’t help their cause. During the 15-minute break, snow became the star of the night and covered every inch of the pitch. With this weather, passes, slide tackles and visibility became harder to control. 

Small said the game plan in the difficult weather was just to “play simple, kick it out.”

“You literally couldn't dribble,” she said. “It was so hard to dribble, and you saw everyone who was sliding went with the snow. So yeah, no nonsense.”

Nevertheless, Montreal managed the match's randomness and closed the gap. Mégane Sauvé placed an over-the-top pass for Boychuk, who bodied Rollins to find herself in front of goalie Sierra Cota-Yarde and score Montreal’s only goal across both legs of the semifinal. 

“Honestly, I don't care at all. It didn't mean anything to score that goal because we didn't go forward,” said Boychuk, her voice breaking. “It’s an honour to wear the badge every single day, but it’s not good enough.”

With the score at 3-1, Montreal continued to aim to close down the gap, but to do so, they needed to bring players higher on the pitch. This left gaps in their defensive line, ultimately allowing AFC to score their fourth.

After defender Stéphanie Hill tried clearing the ball, Rowe released a lobbed shot on the edge of the box that found its way into the top corner. The final goal of the semi-final matchup was a big one for the 21-year-old.

“It took [Rowe] a long time to come back from that concussion that slowed her down quite a bit. But I think she's now playing her best soccer,” said Milanovic. “She's another very young player. We signed her midway through the season as well. So a lot of potential and a great, great attitude. We're just excited to see where she'll go.”

With an aggregate score of 6-1, Toronto secured a spot in the NSL final, where they will play against Vancouver Rise FC. Vancouver won the other semifinal in a shootout against Ottawa Rapid FC on Saturday afternoon.

“What comes to mind is the rematch of the earlier BMO game we had against them that we lost. We wanted desperately to go back to that field, because that's one stadium that we haven't won at this year,” said Milanovic. “That's that one last thing that we need to accomplish, all our other goals we've accomplished so far. That's the last one, hopefully we can do it on Saturday.”