Vancouver Rise FC emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Ottawa Rapid FC in Desiree Scott’s final regular-season home match. Latifah Abdu and Jessica De Filippo both found the back of the net during the game. Scott, a renowned midfielder for the Canadian women’s national team known as “The Destroyer,” will retire at the end of the season after playing for Ottawa in the league’s inaugural season.
Before the match, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe declared October 8 as Desiree Scott Day, and the 2,906 fans at TD Place paid tribute by wearing pink headbands in her honor. Scott expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from the fans and the club’s gesture to celebrate her. She mentioned her pride in assisting in launching the league and doing so with Ottawa Rapid, the club she preferred for this journey.
Despite the emotional farewell, Scott’s career is not yet concluded. Ottawa Rapid FC will conclude their regular season against Halifax Tides FC on Wednesday. The Rapids have already secured a playoff berth and currently share the second position with Montreal and Vancouver, each accumulating 36 points in the standings. Toronto leads the table, with all four teams securing their playoff spots.
The match witnessed Vancouver Rise FC defeating Ottawa Rapid FC 2-0, courtesy of goals from Latifah Abdu and Jessica De Filippo. Ottawa currently holds the second spot in the NSL standings, followed by Montreal in third place due to goal differential, while Vancouver has a game in hand. All three teams have secured their places in the upcoming playoffs, along with the table-toppers Toronto.