What a weekend of Canadian footy!

The NSL was back in full swing and Canadians were scoring in the Champions League and across many other competitions both domestic and abroad.

Plus, a key CanMNT player is back from injury, and plenty more in this week’s edition of The Northern Pitch.

If week one is any indication, we are in for a banger of an NSL season once again.

The 2026 Northern Super League season, the second in the league’s history, kicked off on Friday night at Swangard Stadium with the Vancouver Rise hosting AFC Toronto.

After Zoe Burns opened the scoring for the season and match for AFC Toronto, the champs looked like they had things under control with goals from Camila Reyes and Latifah Abdu. But Toronto turned the tide late as Sarah Stratigakis and Esther Okoronkwo completed the comeback. Statement win from the defending regular season champs.

Speaking of turning the tide, Halifax finished bottom of the table in year one, but opened 2026 with a huge 3-1 win over Ottawa Rapid at the Wanderers Grounds. Addy Weichers opened the scoring and Jordyn Rhodes and Julianne Vallerand also found the net for the Nova Scotia club.

Finally, in snowy Calgary, the Roses were still in bloom as Montréal shut out the host Wild courtesy of a debut brace from American striker Elyse Bennett.

Ottawa, Montréal and Toronto all have their home openers next weekend as the league heads east. We are so back.

Arsenal will head to Lyon next week with a lead in their Champions League semi-final thanks to heroics from CanWNT’s Olivia Smith.

As Arsenal hosts OL Lyonnes at the Emirates on Sunday, they were dealt an early goal from Jule Brand in the 18th minute. However, they fought back level on a 59th-minute own goal.

Enter Smith, who in the 83rd minute made a great hustle play to win the ball in the box, and then slot it past Endler to give Arsenal a 2-1 leg one victory over Ashley Lawrence’s Lyon.

Semi-final action kicked off in Munich on Saturday, where Vanessa Gilles’ Bayern Munich hosted FC Barcelona in leg one of their tie. The hosts, however, went down after just eight minutes on a goal from Ewa Pajor. But Bayern equalized in the 69th minute through German international Franziska Kett.

Ten minutes later, however, she was sent off for putting the hair of her opponent. Gilles, who played the full 90, helped Bayern hold on for the 1-1 draw.

The second legs of both take place this weekend, with OL Lyonnes hosting Arsenal on Saturday, May 2 (9 a.m. ET) and Barcelona battling Bayern on Sunday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. ET. All UEFA Women’s Champions League action in Canada this year can be watched live on OneSoccer.

Alistair Johnston is back! After a lengthy injury spell, the CanMNT full back has made his return to a roaring ovation from the supporters at Celtic Park. AJ came off the bench in the 72nd minute and saw out Celtic’s 3-1 win over Falkirk.

Big news for Canada. The CanMNT backline was missing the experience and work rate of AJ. Although Niko Sigur proved to be effective at full back, AJ’s ability on the right hand side has been missed.

One comes back, another is on the sidelines. As Canada regains their right back, it also loses it’s left back. Richie was not featured in Toronto’s squad this past weekend against Atlanta United.

Out for four weeks. Laryea had reported discomfort in his thigh after the 3-3 draw against the Philadelphia Union last Wednesday. TFC’s medical team conclude that Richie will be out for four weeks.

World Cup not in jeopardy. Richie Laryea will not miss the World Cup and is expected to return before the tournament. However, questions are being raised about Toronto’s medical team.

Key TFC players such as Matheus Pereira, Djordje Milhailovic, Theo Corbeanu, Nicksoen Gomis and Henry Wingo are out injured. Benjamin Kuscevic and Jose Cifuentes have also picked up knocks this past weekend.

✴️ Jordyn Huitema from the corner. It’s been a difficult start to life in the NWSL for Boston. One that didn’t get any easier this week as Chicago and Huitema heaped more pain onto the Legacy with the first goal in a 2-0 finish.

👑 Cloé Lacasse scores. It was a goal royale for Utah against Seattle on Sunday night. CanWNT winger Cloé Lacasse got in on the fun, netting yet another goal on the season in the 3-0 win.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Larin’s Saints out of the FA Cup. It just wasn’t to be. While Southampton came close in the FA Cup semifinal, even scoring first against Manchester City, a late comeback sent the Citizens through, 2-1. Small solace for Cyle, he scored earlier in the week in a 2-2 draw against Bristol City.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 A top evening from Liam Millar. Also on Tuesday, Liam Millar was once again the danger man for Hull, finding a way to be involved on both goals in a 2-2 draw against Leicester. He scored the first, and assisted the second, punishing a familiar face in the Foxes’ goal — Calgary native and Bosnian international Asmir Begovic.

🇫🇷 Jacen Russell-Rowe off the mark in Ligue 1. JRR fever has officially landed in Toulouse. The former Columbus Crew striker scored his first goal in Europe on Saturday. It was an important one too, making a 2-2 draw against historic side Monaco.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Aribim Pepple makes an early mark. It didn’t take long for the former Cavalryman to get the party started against FA Cup quarterfinalists Port Vale on Saturday. Bim found tbe back of the net after 3 minutes in a 2-1 win.

🇸🇪 Honours even in the Göteborg derby. Ottawa vs Halifax… in Sweden? That’s right, CPL exports faced off in Europe this week as ex-Wanderer Tiago Coimbra and IFK Göteborg hosted former Ottawa pair Matteo De Brienne and Sam Salter. We’ll have to until next time for a potential winner though, as this one ended 2-2.

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🪧 #SaveTheCaps! The Vancouver Whitecaps hosted and defeated the Colorado Rapids 3-1. Brian White had another stand out performance with a brace that came from perfectly timed runs. With the best football being played in Canada at BC Place, both supporters and club continue to make the case for the Whitecaps to remain in Vancouver. 27,500 supporters were in attendance.

🧤 GAVRAN! GOAL GAVRAN! Keepers scoring clutch goals in the dying minutes is the nectar of life. This is what happened in Toronto’s midweek action against the Philadelphia Union. TFC were doing their trademark bottle job until a hero emerged, Luka Gavran. The keeper scored off a corner to equalize the game 3-3 in stoppage time. Moments like this are what we live for.

🔴 TFC lose at home to Atlanta United. We started on a high note and ended TFC’s week on a low note. Toronto were defeated 1-2 at home by Atlanta at BMO Field. For Toronto, there were no last-minute clutch goals, nor were they able to convert goals in open play. However, Emilio Aristizabal’s header in the 71st minute is a thing of beauty.

🔵 CF MTL win two consecutive games at home. Suns out, Vitamin D fills the air and CF Montreal supporters are starting to feel a little more positive. MTL hosted NYCFC at home and handed the away team a 1-0 defeat. Since the beginning of Philippe Eullaffroy’s tenure as caretaker, the club has been performing positively. Maybe this rocky ship has finally somewhat settled?

🤠 Jayden Nelson with a stunner. The CanMNT winger and Austin FC hosted Houston in a Texas Darby. Nelson opened the game with a finesse curler at the far post. The game ended in a 2-0 dub for Austin FC.

Saturday, May 2nd
Toronto FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes (1:00pm ET @ BMO Field)
Atlanta United vs. CF Montreal (7:30 pm ET)
LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 pm PT)

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⚜️ Supra win their first home game. The Supra brand of football is here to stay. Electric and entertaining, players were given the freedom to express themselves, and that is what they did against Atletico Ottawa at Stade CEPSUM. The Wanderers took the lead in the first half, but Supra equalized and scored the winner in the second half. The game ended 2-1, and Supra’s champagne football is worth watching.

🐴 Cavalry held to a draw at home. Apparently it was snowing in Calgary. The Cavs hosted Inter Toronto FC at ATCO Field to a 1-1 draw. This is Cavalry’s second consecutive draw with Forge and Supra on their heels.

🦖 Ottleti steal more points late. It wasn’t the full set of three points for Atlético Ottawa, but the Eagles will still feel a little hard done after three FVS challenges and a Callum Irving penalty save-turned-Mo Amissi goal somehow didn’t net them the win. The biggest concern for everyone after the 1-1 draw? Santiago López, who had to leave on a stretcher.

🔨 Forge win in Victoria. Pacific played this match at Royal Athletic Park, closer to downtown Victoria, but the change of scenery didn’t help much. Forge’s Antoine Batisse had a potential chalked off, but it didn’t matter in the end as Brian Wright still found a late breakthrough in the 1-0 finish for the Hammers.

Friday, May 1st
Inter Toronto FC vs. Atletico Ottawa (7:30pm ET @ York Lions Stadium)

Saturday, May 2nd
Halifax Wanderers vs. Forge FC (2:00pm ET @ Wanderers Grounds)

Sunday, May 3rd
Supra du Quebec vs. Cavalry FC (3:00pm ET @ Stade Boreale)
Pacific FC vs. Vancouver FC (4:00pm PT @ Starlight Stadium)

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👏 Casey Stoney inducted to the WSL Hall of Fame. Congratulations, coach! The CanWNT’s top boss was admitted to the WSL Hall of Fame this week off the back of almost two decades as a player for Lincoln, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. She was entered alongside England defender Kerys Harop and a posthumous honour for legendary Liverpool manager Matt Beard.