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October 13th Edition
Les Rouges lose to the Socceroos & domestic footy enters its final week
Happy Thanksgiving Monday! 🦃🍁⚽️
We hope many of you have been able to spend some wonderful time with friends and family over this long weekend, and perhaps had a few opportunities to mix in some domestic and international football.
Despite Friday’s frustrating loss for Canada against Australia, this weekend was filled with plenty of thrilling action across the NSL, MLS and CPL — which all head into their final weekend of the season with a lot on the line.
Plus, more clutch play from Thomas Müller, an away date with Colombia and more in this week’s edition of The Northern Pitch.
In this week's edition:
CanMNT
🇦🇺 Les Rouges vs Socceroos: was it a friendly?
Canada Soccer
This game felt like a Darby. Maybe this is the birth of a Commonwealth rivalry, but this game did not feel like a friendly. There was beef, tension and a sold out venue that wanted more.
The vibes at Stade Saputo was on point. The first time Stade Saputo was sold out in 2025. Granted, CF MTL’s game against Inter Miami was the last time the stadium filled out but we digress. The supporters truly were the 12th man.
Canada came out dominating. In the first half, Les Rouges completely controlled the midfield and boxed in Australia. However, the attacking duo of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin was missing a knock out blow.
It takes one mistake. Australia handled the pressure well and were effective on counter-attacks. Despite CanMNT dominating possession, Australia seized its chance with a goal from Nestory Irankunda. Niko Sigur had a solid game but a moment of miscommunication between him and Crépeau led to a mistake.
Notes from the game: Jacob Shaffelburg, Liam Millar, Mathieu Choinière, Promise David and Ismaël Kone were dangerous when pushing forward. Australia had no answers but unfortunately no finish. The game ended in a 1-0 loss for CanMNT.
Quebecois players were on full display. Local talents and players that have come through Montreal were shown love by the crowds. Maxime Crépeau, Joel Waterman, Nathan Saliba and Ismael Kone were given massive love. When Mathieu Choinière subbed on, Stade Saputo was deafening.
Next up? Colombia in New Jersey on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on OneSoccer, TSN) where Canada will look to defeat a team in the top 15 for the first time in history. Do that, and the disappointment of Friday will disappear quickly.
NSL
🌌 NSL regular season reaches its final week
Northern Super League
Just three games left (we can’t believe it either).
The NSL’s inaugural regular season has reached its final week, and while we know which four teams will battle to lift the Diana B. Matheson Cup for the first time, we don’t know the order.
AFC Toronto have wrapped up first place for a few weeks now, and won the Supporters’ Shield. But who they will play in the first round is still up in the air.
Vancouver Rise sit in second with three more points than either Ottawa Rapid or Montréal Roses in fourth—who are tied on 36.
On Wednesday, Halifax host Ottawa at the Wanderers Grounds. Then it’s Calgary and Vancouver Rise in Calgary on Thursday, before the week concludes on Sunday at York Lions Stadium, where rivals AFC Toronto and Montréal Roses battle in the final game of the regular season.
Could that be a playoff preview? The playoffs feature home-and-away semi-finals between 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd, before the final on November 15 at BMO Field. Right now, AFC Toronto sit in first, Montréal Roses? They are fourth.
Whatever order these teams end up in we can’t wait for some playoff NSL footy.
CPL
🛡️ The CPL Shield will be decided on Saturday
CPL
It’s a dream scenario for the neutral.
The Canadian Premier League regular season title will be handed out on the league’s final day, with both Forge FC and Atlético Ottawa in the running.
Defending CPL Shield winners Forge are still the favourites. All they need is a point at home against York and it’s over. Atleti, meanwhile, need to beat Halifax on the road—never easy—and hope that York beat Forge.
This Saturday, all eight CPL teams play at the same time at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT in the final day of the regular season: Forge host York, Halifax host Atlético Ottawa, Vancouver FC host Cavalry and Pacific host Valour.
There is plenty to play for beyond the silverware, namely critical playoff positioning. The battle for third will be tight, with York United, Cavalry and Halifax Wanderers all still in the fight.
Finish third, and teams avoid a Wednesday 4th vs. 5th game and get to rest up and host the winner that weekend in the semifinal qualifier. It’s a big advantage, and all three of these teams know it—especially defending North Star Cup Champions Cavalry.
Needless to say, if you have the chance to make it out to a match on Saturday, we highly suggest you take it.
Canucks Abroad
🌍 Canucks Abroad
Atlético Ottawa
🇪🇺 Évelyne Viens nets in the UWCL. Check off another milestone for a Canuck abroad. Viens scored Roma’s opener this week against none other than Real Madrid. The match ended 6-2 to the Spanish giants, yes, but a big moment nonetheless.
🔴 Riviere and Awujo feature on the continent. Manchester United’s Canadian duo kicked off their UWCL campaign in style on Wednesday. Riviere played the full 90’ as United became the only English team to win their first league phase match, doing so in a 1-0 shutout of Vålerenga.
🇸🇪 Sam Salter is making the jump to Europe. The CPL’s likely 2025 Golden Boot winner won’t be signing for Supra after all. Saltbae, whose contract was up at the end of the season, announced that he has signed a pre-contract agreement with Swedish top flight club GAIS. He’ll be joining fellow ex-Ottleti player Matteo De Brienne.
☘️ Annabelle Chukwu dances through Florida State. Chukwu’s got the moves. The CanW20 star beat four defenders and the goalkeeper for her ninth goal this season in a 4-2 win over the Seminoles. Chukwu would also find number ten this week, on the path to a top-30 nod in Top Drawer Soccer’s Midseason Top 100 list.
⚜️ Janine Sonis assist. Sonis logged her fifth assist of the NWSL season on Friday. It came in the final embers of a 1-1 draw against Chicago. Her cross snuck through, helping Lou rescue a point and hold ground on North Carolina in the playoff race.
🏴 Sabrina D’Angelo is unbeatable. With October just around the corner for the CanWNT, Sabs is in fine form. The Aston Villa keeper kept her third clean sheet in four games this season in a 0-0 draw against Leicester, earning Player of the Match. Here were her thoughts after the result.
🇫🇷 Marie Levasseur scores. Levasseur, in search of a recall to Casey Stoney’s October camp, found the back of the net on Saturday. Her goal was the second of the day in a 3-0 win in the Coupe de la Ligue group stages against Toulouse.
MLS
⚽️ MLS News & Recaps
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
🔴 Toronto FC lost to a Son-less LAFC. With the CanMNT camp in full swing, TFC were without leaders Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio. LAFC are without their international stars, regardless, it was going to be a tough game. Defensive mistakes plagued their night as LAFC 2-0 win came from individual errors at the back. But, shout out to Sean Johnson for making a penalty save.
🌊 Thomas Muller is clutch. Vancouver Whitecaps travelled to Florida and played against defensively stubborn Orlando City side. The home team opened the game in the 24th minute and only had 31% ball possession all game. The Caps dominated the ball but struggled to unlock Orlando’s defensive posture. The momentum started to shift when Ryan Gauld and Nelson Pierre were introduced into the game. With Gauld assisting Pierre’s equalizer in the 81st. In the dying minutes of the game, the Bavarian giant showed World Cup quality with a bottom corner banger outside the box. Muller ended the game 2-1 for the Caps with a goal in the 90+7th minute.
This week’s MLS fixtures:
Saturday, October 18th
FC Cincinnati vs. CF Montreal (6:00 PM ET @ TQL Stadium) Toronto FC vs. Orlando City (6:00 PM ET @ BMO Field) Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Dallas (3:00 PM PT @ BC Place)
Canadian Premier League
🍁 CPL News & Recaps
Halifax Wanderers FC
🔱 York United held to a draw at home. With the playoff sports secured, CPL clubs are now fighting to finish with the highest seed possible. York United would start this game slow as Pacific FC would take the lead with a banger from Marco Bustos and Alejandro Diaz in the first half. The Nine Stripes responded with two more goals in the second securing a 2-2 draw at home.
🐎 Did Calvary give Ottawa some hope? Top dogs Forge FC travelled to ATCO Stadium to face off against Cavalry FC. This game was summarized in the first half as both teams scored within the first 45. The second half was a stalemate between both sides as the game ended 1-1.
⚓️ Halifax slowly climbing the ladder. The Haligonians travelled to Winnipeg in an attempt to minimize the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Cavalry. The Wanderers are now in sight in potentially getting out of the playoff qualification round as they defeated Valour 3-0. Now they are two points behind Cavalry.
👏 Ottawa are undefeated at home. Ottleti broke the CPL record with their 0-0 draw against Vancouver FC at TD Place Stadium. Atletico Ottawa have gone 8 wins and 6 draws at home in the regular season, a CPL first. However, they remain two points behind first placed Forge FC. Nonetheless, TD Place Stadium is a fort for Ottawa.
This week’s CPL fixtures:
Saturday, October 18th
Forge FC vs. York United (4:00 PM ET @ Hamilton Stadium) Halifax Wanderers vs. Atletico Ottawa (5:00 PM AT @ Wanderers Grounds) Pacific FC vs. Valour FC (1:00 PM PT @ Starlight Stadium) Vancouver FC vs. Cavalry FC (1:00 PM PT @ Willoughby Community Park)
Northern Super League
🌌 NSL News & Recaps
Northern Super League
🏔️ The Rise humble the Rapid at TD Place Stadium. Like the CPL, playoff spots are locked in and now it s a battle of securing seeding. Vancouver had a good weekend in the Canadian east. They would kick off their tour with a 2-0 win against Ottawa. With goals from Latifah Abdu and Jessica De Filippo.
🏔️ The Rise continued their win streak in Montreal. Vancouver traveled to Laval to play against the Montreal Roses. This was a close game where Vancouver carried their winning momentum into Stade Boreale by defeating Montreal 1-0. The early goal from Jessice De Filippo would secure all three points for the Rise. Vancouver now sit second in the table.
🦉 Calgary came out swinging. This is a performance that the Wild would have liked to have throughout the season. They came out swinging in the first half with a clean finish in the 3rd minute by Meggie Dougherty Howard, who would eventually secure a brace with a pen in the 50th minute. Despite the Tides responding with an equalizer in the 27th, Calgary pick up the dub with a 3-1 win.
This week’s NSL fixtures:
Wednesday, October 15th
Halifax Tides vs. Ottawa Rapid (6:30 PM AT @ Wanderers Ground)
Thursday, October 16th
Calgary Wild vs. Vancouver Rise (7:00 PM MT @ McMahon Stadium)
Sunday, October 19th
AFC Toronto vs Roses de Montreal (12:00 PM ET @ York Lions Stadium)