Vancouver Rise advance to inaugural Northern Super League final after shootout win over Rapid

The Vancouver Rise are heading to the inaugural Northern Super League final after defeating the Ottawa Rapid in a shootout Saturday.

Sofia Hagman scored the decisive penalty in the sixth round of penalty kicks, moments after Ottawa’s Julia Benati saw her spot kick saved by Rise goalkeeper Morgan McAslan.

It was McAslan’s second penalty save of the shootout. She also stopped Susanne Haaland’s spot kick in the fifth round, which could’ve won the game for the Rapid.

Latifah Abdu’s penalty shortly after kept Vancouver alive, setting the scene for McAslan’s heroics and Hagman’s winner.

It was the second time in the match that Ottawa failed to hold onto its lead. Goals from Delaney Baie Pridham and Melanie Forbes put them up 2-0 in the game and 3-2 on aggregate for a good chunk of the second leg. But a Holly Ward goal in the 85th minute tied things up for the visitors and forced extra time.

Rapid coach Katrine Pederson was both proud and sad after the thrilling match.

"This is both the best and the worst part of football. We lost in the toughest way possible, but I'm incredibly proud of our players, the team, and everyone around us," said Pederson.

"We came in knowing we had to win, and after a slow start we grew stronger as the match went on. Both teams put on a great semifinal It hurts to lose this way, but we can be proud of how we played and what we achieved this season."

Vancouver initially came into the second leg at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa up 2-1. Latifah Abdu scored twice to lead the Rise to victory in the first leg on Tuesday in Burnaby, B.C.

And while they trailed for most of normal time, Vancouver was the dominant team in the second leg. They had more possession (58-42 per cent), more shots on target (11-8) and more accurate passes (528-342) than Ottawa.

With their ticket to the first-ever NSL final on Nov. 15 now booked, the Rise will face winner of Sunday's other semifinal between AFC Toronto and the Montreal Roses. Toronto leads that semifinal 2-0 on aggregate thanks to goals from Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter in the first leg.

Desiree Scott, the Rapid's captain, confirmed her retirement following the match. Attendance was announced as 3,068.

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