Ottawa and Toronto Share the Points Again
Ottawa Rapid's Northern Super League clash with AFC Toronto ended level, the latest chapter in what's quickly becoming one of Canadian women's soccer's most-watched provincial rivalries — the so-called 'Battle of Ontario.' Neither side could break the deadlock, and the two Ontario clubs walked away splitting the points once more.
Why This Rivalry Matters to Ottawa
Ottawa Rapid is one of the founding clubs of the Northern Super League, Canada's first professional women's soccer league, which launched to bring top-tier domestic competition to Canadian cities that had never had a pro women's team of their own. For Ottawa sports fans, that's a big deal — the capital hasn't had this kind of representation in the women's game before, and matchups against Toronto carry an extra edge given the two cities' long-standing sports rivalry across other leagues.
Every meeting between Ottawa Rapid and AFC Toronto has been billed as a marquee event on the NSL calendar, and this latest draw does nothing to cool that rivalry down. If anything, a tightly contested result like this one only raises the stakes for the next time these two Ontario sides meet.
What a Draw Means in the Standings
In a young league still building its identity, results like this carry weight beyond the final score. A draw keeps both Ottawa Rapid and AFC Toronto in close contention rather than letting either club pull away, and it sets up their next meeting as a chance for one team to finally claim bragging rights in the province. For Ottawa Rapid supporters, coming away from a heated Ontario derby without a loss is a reasonable result to build on.
Following Ottawa Rapid This Season
The Northern Super League is still in its early years, and Ottawa Rapid's ability to consistently compete with a big-market rival like AFC Toronto is a good early sign for the club. As the NSL grows, matches like this one are likely to keep drawing attention from Ottawa sports fans looking for a local team to rally behind — especially one that plays its home matches right here in the capital.
Ottawa Rapid fans looking to catch the next installment of the Battle of Ontario should keep an eye on the NSL schedule, as this rivalry shows no signs of slowing down.
Source: Waking The Red, via Google News
