Rowe's late goal lifts Toronto to 1-0 NSL road win over Halifax

The primary kit for Northern Super League's AFC Toronto is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - AFC Toronto (Mandatory Credit)

HALIFAX - Lauren Rowe's goal in the 79th minute snapped a scoreless tie and lifted the visiting AFC Toronto to a 1-0 Northern Super League victory over the Halifax Tides on Tuesday at Wanderers Grounds.

Eight minutes earlier Toronto's Victoria Pickett drilled a shot off the goalpost as the first-place visitors applied pressure on the last-place hosts.

Toronto, which had 17 shot attempts compared to 11 for Halifax, finished with four on-target shots. They improved to eights wins, three losses and one draw for 25 points. The visitors became the first NSL team to five win straight matches.

鈥淚t (the goal) honestly didn鈥檛 feel real at first 鈥 being away, I didn鈥檛 hear much of a cheer, but when my teammates came over to celebrate, it hit me. It was such a special moment," said Rowe.

The Tides, who also had four on-target shots, received two of the match's four yellow cards and slipped to three wins, seven losses and one draw for 10 points.

鈥淲e played against a very organized and motivated team in front of a great home crowd,鈥 said Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic. 鈥淲e knew it was going to be a tough game, but I鈥檓 proud of how we stayed patient and kept doing the right things. Even when the goals didn鈥檛 come early, we trusted the process and we got rewarded for it.鈥

Toronto goalkeeper Sofia Manner recorded the clean sheet. Midfielder Nikki Small added an assist, moving her into a tie for the NSL lead with five helpers.

Attendance was announced as 4,051.

UP NEXT

AFC Toronto: Hosts the Montreal Roses on Friday.

Halifax Tides: Host the Vancouver Rise on Saturday.

This report by 好色tvwas first published July 15, 2025.

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