AFC Toronto Earns 1-1 Draw at Home Against Vancouver Rise FC
Japan’s Aoi Kizaki notched her first NSL career goal in the even matchup against the Rise
Toronto, ON (May 11, 2025) – AFC Toronto battled to a 1-1 draw against the visiting Vancouver Rise FC on Sunday afternoon at York Lions Stadium in Toronto. After an evenly matched first half, Toronto surged in the second half controlling pace and possession, with midfielder Aoi Kizaki seizing an opportunity on a corner kick from Colby Barnett in the 84th minute.
Vancouver would answer in the final seconds of added time, as Mississauga native Jessica De Filippo cleanly won the battle from a corner and nodded it past Sierra Cota-Yarde to equalize the match. The first of five meetings between the two teams concluded 1-1.
“Obviously it feels like a loss for us because I felt we controlled the second half. We created tons of chances, scored, and just one mistake there at the end,” said head coach Marko Milanovic. “We conceded quite a bit on set pieces, something we definitely have to address. But overall, I was very happy with the performance, especially from about 20 minutes into the first half on- and especially in the second half.”
Milanovic on Aoi Kizaki: “Aoi is one of our best footballers, for sure technically outstanding and with a great IQ. She's still getting used to the North American game a little bit with the physicality and transitions. Once she gets used to that, we feel like she's gonna be very impactful for us.”
Next, AFC Toronto hits the road to face the Halifax Tides FC at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m. ET.
AOI KIZAKI: The Japanese midfielder scored the first goal of her Northern Super League career.
SIERRA COTA-YARDE: The AFC goalkeeper made her Northern Super League debut, keeping a clean sheet until the final seconds of the match.
UP NEXT: AFC Toronto are on the road to the East Coast as they take on Halifax Tides FC on Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m. ET (Watch on TSN and stream on NSL.ca; US Streaming on ESPN+)
MATCH SUMMARY
AFC Toronto - 1 Vancouver Rise FC - 1
Venue: York Lions Stadium
Referee: Isabelle Duclos
Assistants: Melissa Snedden, Natalie Berry Fourth Official: Angelina Baldino
Referee Observer: Alexis Vaughan Attendance: 2,615
SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: Aoi Kizaki (84’)
Vancouver Rise FC: Jessica De Filippo (90’+4’)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
86’ - Yellow: Nikki Small (AFC Toronto) 1’+90’ - Yellow: Colby Barnett (AFC Toronto)
STARTING LINEUP & STATS
AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:
GK Sierra Cota-Yarde (Portugal) DF Hong Hye-Ji (South Korea) DF Kaela Hansen (Burnaby, BC) DF Ashley Cathro (Victoria, BC) MF Nikayla Small (Pickering, ON) MF Emma Regan (Burnaby, BC)
MF Colby Barnett (USA)
MF Victoria Pickett (Barrie, ON) FW Kaylee Hunter (Calgary, AB) FW Shaina Ashouri (USA)
FW Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria)
Substitutes: Noelle Henning (GK), Croix Soto (DF), Sarah Rollins (DF), Aoi Kizaki (MF), April Lantaigne (MF), Cloey Uddenberg (MF), Ivymae Perez (MF), Nyota Katembo (MF)
Total Shots: 17 Shots on Goal: 6 Fouls: 7 Offsides: 3 Corner-Kicks: 6 Saves: 0
Video Highlights of Opening Game
Media can access video highlights from the opening match on the Northern Super League YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernSuperLeague
Match Summary
A complete summary of the match facts and stats can be viewed at: