A late goal from Halifax Tides FC stunned Vancouver Rise FC at Swangard Stadium on Saturday, as the visitors took a 1-0 victory. 

It was another strong start for Rise FC, keeping Halifax Tides FC pinned in their half in the opening moments. 

Both Maithe Lopez and Jessica De Filippo had early chances after finding space behind the Tides FC defensive line, but they were just unable to get on the end of a couple in-behind passes. 

Halifax then began growing into the match, turning the game into a locked battle in the midfield. Rise FC kept finding chances to cross into the box, but were just missing the connection to get shots on target. 

Alex Lamontagne finally got on the end of one, heading towards goal off a Camila Reyes free kick in the 40th minute, but her effort flew into the waiting hands of Tides FC ‘keeper Anika Toth.  

Latifah Abdu had the best chance of the half right before the break, after Mia Pante floated a cross towards the back post for the forward, but the angle proved to be too tight as her effort bounced the wrong side of the post.

The second half saw Rise FC turn the energy up a level, as they searched for the goal to put them ahead. 

Anna Bout had a great look on goal in the first 10 minutes, after the ball dropped for her at the edge of the box. The midfielder had great technique to keep a laser shot down, but it was well-met by Toth. 

Rise FC kept the pressure up with a multitude of corners, whipping cross after cross into the box to grab the opener. 

Anaïs Oularbi nearly got the home crowd off its feet in the 75th minute, after she stepped up and blasted a free kick just past the near post from over 30 yards out. 

As the match edged to a close, Rise FC kept pushing hard to find the winning goal, but Halifax held strong as they looked to come away with a point. 

Audrey François was millimetres away from snatching the win in added time after Abdu cut it back for the forward in the box, but it just skipped past the onrushing forward. 

Instead it was Tides FC who took all three points after Julia Benati’s effort from halfway went over Rise FC ‘keeper Jessica Wulf. 

Rise FC are back home to host Ottawa Rapid FC on Sunday, September 13. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT for. Fans can grab tickets at vanrisefc.com/tickets. 

MATCH DETAILS

Referee: Isabelle Duclos

Scoring Summary
90’+4 - HFX - Julia Benati

Statistics
Possession: VAN 58% - HFX 42%
Shots: VAN 4 - HFX 6
Shots on Goal: VAN 1 - HFX 2
Saves: VAN 1 - HFX 1
Fouls: VAN 15 - HFX 11
Offsides: VAN 0 - HFX 2
Corners: VAN 8 - HFX 2

Cautions
23’ - HFX - Karime Lemire
37’ - VAN - Alex Lamontagne
37’ - HFX - Cho So-hyun
39’ - HFX - Kat Jordan
78’ - HFX - Julianne Vallerand

Vancouver Rise FC
31.Jessica Wulf; 18.Yuka Okamoto, 6.Tori Tumeth©️, 25.Kaela Hansen (21.Chantelle Swaby 54’), 22.Mia Pante; 10.Camila Reyes (24.Josie Longhurst 54’), 14.Anna Bout (3.Jessika Cowart 89’); 11.Jessica De Filippo; 8.Alex Lamontagne (17.Audrey Francois 54’), 23.Maithe Lopez (26.Anais Oularbi 70’), 99.Latifah Abdu

Substitutes not used
13.Morgan McAslan, 4.Sura Yekka, 12.Jaylyn Wright

Halifax Tides FC
12.Anika Toth; 44.Julianne Vallerand (5.Annika Leslie 86’), 2.Naya Cardoza, 16.Addy Weichers, 10.Kat Jordan; 8.Cho So-Hyun, 6.Larima Lemire (4.Julia Benati HT); 98.Stella Downing (33.Tiffany Cameron 70’), 7.Julie Pedersen, 32.Syd Kennedy (11.Saorla Miller 70’); 30.Jordyn Rhodes (9.Meredith McDermott 86’)

Substitutes not used
17.Kirstin Tynan, 21.Synne Fredriksen Moe, 24.Megumi Nakamura, 28.Éva Frémaux