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NSL Vancouver Rise FC Fall 3-1 to Ottawa Rapid FC Despite Strong Start at Swangard Stadium
Vancouver Rise FC controlled long stretches of play on a hot Sunday afternoon at Swangard Stadium, but Ottawa Rapid FC capitalized on their chances to claim a 3-1 victory.
The home side came out flying and nearly opened the scoring inside two minutes. Jessica De Filippo drove into the penalty area and forced a deflection behind for a corner before creating two more dangerous opportunities in the opening 10 minutes. One effort sailed just over the crossbar after a clever pass from Anaïs Oularbi, while another chance narrowly missed after a low cross from Anna Bout flashed across the face of goal.
De Filippo continued to be Vancouver‘s biggest threat throughout the first half. In the 16th minute, she slipped past two defenders for a one-on-one opportunity, but Ottawa goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais anticipated the attempted chip and made the save.
Vancouver maintained the pressure, with Latifah Abdu nearly breaking the deadlock midway through the half after a loose ball fell kindly inside the box. Her volley, though, drifted just over the bar.
Despite spending much of the opening half defending, Ottawa struck first against the run of play in the 28th minute. Min-A Lee found space outside the area and beat goalkeeper Jessica Wulf with a long-range effort to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Rise FC continued pushing for an equalizer. Abdu came close again in the 40th minute after Camila Reyes played her through on goal, but Dagenais was equal to the shot.
The breakthrough finally came just before halftime. After Vancouver won possession inside Ottawa‘s penalty area, De Filippo reacted quickest to a loose ball and curled a composed finish into the top corner in the 43rd minute, sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.
Vancouver carried that momentum into the second half, controlling possession early after the restart. Ottawa, however, struck again on the counterattack just five minutes into the half. Johanne Fridlund released D.B. Pridham behind the defence, and the striker calmly finished to restore the visitors’ advantage.
Wulf kept Vancouver within striking distance with an excellent save from distance near the hour mark, and substitute Jaime Perrault provided an immediate spark after entering the match. The midfielder won possession high up the pitch and delivered several dangerous crosses as Rise FC searched for another equalizer.
The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Kennedy Faulknor was ruled to have fouled Pridham inside the penalty area. The defender was shown a red card, leaving Vancouver down to 10 players, and Pridham converted the resulting penalty to extend Ottawa‘s lead to 3-1.
Rise FC refused to give up. Maithé López nearly set up Abdu for a quick response, and Vancouver continued pressing late in the match, with Abdu, López and Perrault all forcing Ottawa‘s defence into key blocks. The visitors held firm through the closing stages to secure all three points.
The loss leaves Rise FC looking to bounce back on Thursday, June 18, when they travel to face Halifax Tides FC. Vancouver returns to Swangard Stadium on Sunday, June 28, for a home matchup against AFC Toronto.
Check out our favourite photos of the game below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
VANCOUVER RISE FC v OTTAWA RAPID FC
All Photo Credit: Aly Mae
Sport Photos
NSL Vancouver Rise FC Stun Halifax Tides FC With Last-Minute Winner
Drama took over Swangard Stadium on Saturday night as Vancouver Rise FC rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat Halifax Tides FC 2-1, with Jessica De Filippo scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.
Rise nearly opened the scoring inside the first two minutes. De Filippo found herself at the edge of the six-yard box, but her first-time effort sailed over the bar.
Vancouver continued to create chances. Ten minutes later, Anna Bout slipped Anaïs Oularbi through on the left, with Oularbi cutting the ball back for De Filippo. Her sliding attempt just missed the pass.
Halifax had a chance of its own moments later, but Rise goalkeeper Morgan McAslan came up with one of the saves of the night. She stopped Julia Benati’s point-blank effort before quickly smothering the rebound.
The Tides eventually broke through in the 18th minute. Benati sent Rhodes in behind the Vancouver defence, and Rhodes finished past McAslan to give Halifax the lead.
Rise pushed for an equalizer before halftime. Bout tried her luck from distance in the 30th minute, but her shot skipped wide of the far post.
Vancouver‘s pressure picked up as the half progressed, with crosses repeatedly sent into the Halifax box. Just before halftime, Myla Ewasiuk met an Oularbi free kick with a header, but Tides goalkeeper Anika Tóth was ready for it.
Rise came out of the break with renewed pressure, bringing Latifah Abdu into the match to add another attacking option. Her impact was almost immediate.
Camila Reyes found Abdu behind the Halifax defence, sending the forward in alone against Tóth. Abdu slipped as she took her shot, though, leaving Tóth with an easy clearance.
The equalizer finally arrived in the 56th minute. Bout delivered a cross into the box, and De Filippo rose to meet it, powering her header past Tóth to make it 1-1.
Vancouver kept coming in search of the winner.
Josie Longhurst nearly put Rise ahead in the 74th minute when she popped the ball up just outside the box and launched an ambitious volley. She got plenty of power behind it, but the effort went just wide.
Abdu came even closer seven minutes later. After turning two defenders, she unleashed a volley that forced Tóth into a fingertip save.
De Filippo then came within inches of a second goal when her header was deflected onto the post and out.
With the match moving into stoppage time, the pressure from Rise finally paid off.
Abdu found space on the left and floated a cross toward the penalty spot. De Filippo brought the ball under control before firing it into the net, sending Swangard Stadium into a frenzy and completing the comeback.
The win gives Rise another dramatic result at home as the club continues its push through the season.
Vancouver Rise FC will return to action on Saturday, August 22, against Ottawa Rapid FC in Ontario. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT. The team then returns to Swangard Stadium on Saturday, August 29, to host Calgary Wild FC at 3 p.m. PT.
Tickets are available through Vancouver Rise FC.
Check out our favourite photos of the match below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NSL VANCOUVER RISE FC v HALIFAX TIDES FC
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Sport Photos
NSL Vancouver Rise FC Suffer Late 3-2 Loss to Calgary Wild FC in Pride Game
Vancouver Rise FC suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Calgary Wild FC on Saturday afternoon at Swangard Stadium, surrendering two goals in added time after taking a 2-1 lead late in the second half.
The match was the Rise’s Pride Game, giving the club a chance to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community alongside the action on the pitch.
The opening half was a tight affair, with both teams spending much of the first 45 minutes battling for control in midfield.
Maithe Lopez created the first real opportunity for Vancouver, firing a left-footed shot that Calgary goalkeeper Katelin Talbert was able to handle. Anna Bout and Lopez continued to threaten from the wings, forcing Talbert into several punches as Vancouver sent crosses into the Wild box.
The game opened up just before halftime. Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan held onto a long-range effort from Taegan Stewart before Talbert responded at the other end, making a kick save on a hard shot from Lopez near the edge of the box.
Latifah Abdu had Vancouver’s best chance of the half in stoppage time. After chesting down a lobbed pass from Yuka Okamoto, Abdu fired a low shot that narrowly missed the far post.
The teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
Calgary needed less than three minutes after the restart to break the deadlock. The Wild were awarded a penalty, with Stewart stepping up and calmly converting to give Calgary a 1-0 lead.
Vancouver nearly answered immediately. Two minutes later, Abdu got onto the ball inside the box and went for goal, but her effort was blocked wide.
McAslan then kept the Rise within striking distance in the 53rd minute. Jorian Baucom managed to slip behind the Vancouver defence and fired towards goal, only for McAslan to react quickly and make the save.
That stop proved to be a turning point. Just two minutes later, Vancouver found its equalizer. Bout played the ball down the left for Abdu, who drove forward before spotting Jessica De Filippo making a late run into the box. Abdu cut the ball back, and De Filippo took a touch before driving a low shot past Talbert to make it 1-1.
The momentum had swung firmly toward Vancouver, and the Rise struck again soon after.
Camila Reyes collected a loose ball and sent a cross deep into the Calgary box. De Filippo was once again in the right place, redirecting the ball past Talbert to give Vancouver a 2-1 advantage.
With the lead in hand, the Rise made changes in an effort to manage the final stages and hold onto all three points.
The match took another dramatic turn when Calgary appeared to have a chance to get behind the Vancouver defence. Tori Tumeth made a last-ditch tackle to stop the attack, but the defender was shown a red card after the challenge was judged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Down to 10 players, Vancouver had to defend its lead with the game entering its final stages.
The Rise looked set to see out the match, but Calgary produced a stunning late comeback. The Wild scored twice in added time, turning a 2-1 Vancouver lead into a 3-2 defeat and leaving the home side empty-handed after a match that had appeared to be slipping in their favour.
The loss was a particularly frustrating one for Vancouver after the Rise had fought back from a halftime deficit and taken control of the match in the second half.
Vancouver Rise FC will look to bounce back on Saturday, August 15, when Halifax Tides FC visit Swangard Stadium for a crucial matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT. Buy ticket here.
Check out our favourite photos of the game below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
VANCOUVER RISE FC vs CALGARY WILD FC
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer