When the Northern Super League was founded, it promised it would bring some of Canada’s best back home.

It continues to deliver on that, as in recent weeks, three prominent national team players joined the league, with goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo and defender Shelina Zadorsky heading to AFC Toronto, and attacking midfielder Marie-Yasmine Alidou to Montréal Roses.

It all sets up brilliantly for the second half of an exciting season. Plus, some thrilling CanChamp action and more ahead in this week’s edition of The Northern Pitch.

It has been a star-studded season in the Northern Super League, and this week made the biggest headlines yet.

AFC Toronto’s regular-season title defence was given a huge boost by the bolstering of their backline. A week after signing Canadian women’s national team goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, they added gold medalist central defender Shelina Zadorsky.

But the team just ahead of them in the standings, Montréal Roses, made a couple of big splashes as well. They added Canadian international attacker Marie-Yasmine Alidou, who will be a massive boost to their attacking unit.

In a stunning double-signing, they also added 31-year-old French defender Eve Perisset, who has 61 caps for the French national team and has played for clubs like Lyon (where she won the Champions League), PSG and Chelsea.

This comes after a significant investment being made in the league by APEX, an international sports investment firm.

The signings certainly raise the bar and the level of the league, and now it is up to the other clubs, including last year’s champs the Vancouver Rise, to match that standard.

The Canadian Championship was officially back this week, and it did not disappoint!

Forge move on to the semis with a late-minute winner. CS Saint-Laurent is establishing itself as the CanChamps giant-killers. However, their journey for the Voyageurs’ Cup ends with a 2-1 defeat in the second leg at Hamilton Stadium, after a 1-1 draw at Stade Boréale.

For Forge, this was a bit of a wake-up call as Saint-Laurent equalized in both legs after the Hammers had gone up by one goal. A little too close for comfort for Forge, but for CS Saint-Laurent, another impressive campaign.

CF Montréal into the semi-finals. Vancouver FC frustrated the MLS side in the first leg at home as they made CF MTL work hard for their 2-1 win. Vancouver would continue to frustrate MTL in the first half of the second leg and were rewarded with a red card for CFM’s Efrain Moralez. However, Montréal would take control of the situation with a banger free kick from Brendan Craig and a cheeky chip from Daniel Rios. VFC would find the net in the 79th minute with a goal from Morey Doner but the game would end 2-1 for MTL once again.

Sean Rea’s banger might be the goal of the tournament. Supra du Québec hosted the 2025 CPL Champs at Stade Boréale in the first leg of the quarter-finals. This was a tough game for Ottleti as they barely had a handle on the game. Supra came out swinging with the home fans treated to an absolute rocket from Sean Rea. The game ended 3-1 for Supra with the return leg in Ottawa on Tuesday at 5PM ET.

The Whitecaps returned to their ancestral home. As BC Place remained unavailable due to the World Cup, the Caps hosted Cavalry in their former home at Swangard Stadium. Cavalry conceded an own goal in the opening minutes by Adam Pearlman, but they would compensate with an equalizer right before halftime. In the second half, the Whitecaps would dispatch the Cavs with goals from Thomas Muller, Brian White and Rayan Elloumi. The Caps will travel to Calgary for the second leg tonight at 6:30 CT with a 4-1 lead.

All matches are available on OneSoccer.

⛰️ A goal and an assist for Janine Sonis. Captain Sonis strikes again. Multi-point nights are becoming something of a common denominator for the RWB. She scored from the spot and got the assist off a corner in a 2-2 draw against Houston, on a set piece kind of night.

🦢 Nichelle Prince scores. NP7 scoring a goal while marking a milestone. It was Prince’s 100th regular season start in the NWSL, and to go with it, a perfect Maplepressing effort as the Boston winger snuck up on a defender in a 2-0 win over Portland.

👀 Jonathan David finally on the move? Maybe yes, maybe no. This could change at any point, including after this lands in your inbox. But at the moment, JD has just turned down a “rich bid” to go to Turkey, says Nicolo Schira.

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MLS is BACK! and in a big way with a Canadian Classique on the menu.

Thursday, July 16
CF Montréal vs. Toronto FC (7:30PM ET @ Stade Saputo)
Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (5:30PM PT)

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The CPL returns this week with the CanChamp wrapping up the QFs.

Thursday, July 16
Forge FC vs. Pacific FC (7PM ET @ Hamilton Stadium)

Friday, July 17
Atlético Ottawa vs. Inter Toronto (7PM ET @ TD Place Stadium)
FC Supra du Quebec vs. Vancouver FC (7PM ET @ Stade Boréale)

Saturday, July 18
Cavalry FC vs. Halifax Wanderers (1PM MT @ ATCO Field)

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🪽 Ottawa Rapid retain their top spot after the Ontario Darby. AFC Toronto came out flying as Lauren Rowe scored against Ottawa Rapid in the second minute. However, league leaders would reply with a stunner from Min-A Lee ten minutes later. AFC would maintain a high-pressure, stubborn defence throughout the game. Despite Toronto’s Colby Barnett given a red card in the 59th minute, the home side would maintain a solid performance. Until Ottawa’s Delaney Pridham headed a goal in the 87th minute, ending the game 2-1 for the Rapid.

🏔️ Calgary hosted Vancouver to a six goal thriller. This game started with four goals in the first half, two of which were penalties. This game already promised to be a thriller from the beginning as both sides went back and forth. This could have been anyone’s game but the second half favoured the Rise. Vancouver confirmed their 4-2 win over Calgary late into the second half as they found the net in the 86th and 93rd minute.

🌹 Roses hold off Halifax at home. The Montréal Roses hosted the Halifax Tides at Stade Boréale. This was a tight game, as both sides struggled to unlock each other's defences. A lucky break came for the Roses as they were granted a penalty after Tanya Boychuk was fouled in Halifax’s box. Chloe Minas put away a penalty with a calm finish, with that the game ended 1-0 for the Roses.

Thursday, July 16
Ottawa Rapid vs. Halifax Tides (7PM ET @ TD Place Stadium)

Friday, July 17
Calgary Wild vs. Montréal Roses (7PM MT @ McMahon Stadium)

Saturday, July 18
AFC Toronto vs. Vancouver Rise (4PM ET @ York Lions Stadium)

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