Toronto Caribbean Soccer History
AFC advance to NSL Championship Final
AFC Toronto won the second leg of the NSL semi-final against Ottawa Rapids 4-o at TD Place in Ottawa on Saturday November 07, 2026. Kaylee Hunter started the offensive onslaught with an early brace that enabled Toronto to secure their second consecutive trip to the NSL final.
Toronto came out aggressively and opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match. Ottawa goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais had the ball knocked away during a collision, allowing Hunter to collect the loose ball and slot it into an open net from about 40 yards out, for the 1-0 lead.
Dagenais suffered an injury on the play and was stretchered off the pitch before Mollie Eriksson entered the match in relief of the injured goalkeeper.
Stay Tuned!
AFC Toronto Celebrates first win at BMO Field
Sunday August 30th, 2026, was a big day in the history of AFC Toronto soccer. It was the day that AFC registered their first win at BMO Field when they defeated Ottawa 2-1.
AFC looked very businesslike from the opening whistle and of the first half they enjoyed a distinct advantage in ball possession and territorial play. However, they were indecisive in the offensive end of the field with mishit and lack of cohesiveness causing shots to go way off target.
From my vantage point it seemed like the only way AFC would have capitalized on their advantage was from a set play where their shortfalls could have been corrected with the shooter having time to be calm and composed.
It was a scoreless game at the half until AFC finally broke the stalemate after Ottawa committed a foul at the edge of the 18-yard penalty area and just left of center. The referee marked the spot for the taking of the freekick where Kayle Hunter took position as the kicker. She had hit a similar freekick in the first half from the right of center and the law of average seemed to be on her side.
This time she hit a roofer to the goalkeeper left that seemed untouchable from my vantage point. Stay Tuned!
TFC clawing back into MLS playoff picture
TORONTO FC coach Robin Fraser seemed comfortable with his team’s defensive efforts from a late equalizer against NYC last Saturday, but his focus should be on the lack of scoring as the race for playoff spots in the MLS Eastern Conference tightens. Stay Tuned!.
“Score a goal for Canada”
It was SSR World Cup Canada theme song
AFC Toronto Home Opener at BMO ends scoreless
AFC Toronto hit the scoring brakes in their home opener against the Halifax Tides. After opening the season with a come from behind 3-2 win against Vancouver Rise, the BMO troubles resurfaced for AFC coach Marko Milanovic and his players.
AFC Toronto is winless in their four games played at BMO Field, however, they it is worth disclosing that those games were in the 2025
(last) season and against tough teams such as Montreal Roses and Vancouver Rise. In my assessment the style of play of those two
teams were more adaptable to BMO Field. However, judging from AFC Toronto’s NSL championship final game against Vancouver it seemed like AFC Toronto had solved the
adaptation to the open play at BMO Field since they dominated every facet of the game and took the lead before the weather delay.
In this game against Halifax Tides, it was a see-saw battle with AFC looking very dangerous with the set plays and Halifax moving forward into the attack with support. However, from my vantage point it seemed like the difference in the game was the first half injury to AFC forward Esther.
Halifax was very fortunate when she collected a perfect long pass over the Halifax defence from Nikki Small, but her placement shot to the left corner was parried by the Halifax goalkeeper and although she reached the block shot before the pursuing goalkeeper, she shot high and wide for a goal kick.
It felt like when Esther Okoronkwo went down injured, the game would have switch in favour of Halifax which in this game were playing better than the team I saw last season. However, Coach Marko made the substitution to fill the hole but not the void because Kaylee Hunter was trying her best to get on the scoreboard but was overmatched defensively without Esther.
With AFC Toronto facing the league leading Montreal Roses at BMO Field next Sunday (10th), Toronto fans are hopeful that Esther has a quick recovery and is eligible for the game because judging by the improvement of Halifax Tides, it seems like the league will be much tougher this season compared to last when AFC clinched the Supporters Shield with two game remaining.
TFC Goal Keeper scores header for another dramatic 3-3 finish in back
to back games at BMO
There is a saying that you can’t make this stuff up, and you better believe it when it comes to Toronto FC’s home stand to open the 2026 MLS season. What has transpired at BMO since the Reds’ home opener is pure madness and simply amazing. I’ve been around this game longer than most, and I have never seen the types of goals scored, sitters missed, or the timing of goals, including two own goals by opponents.
There were two goals that were practically scored on the last plays of the games. However, the one that takes the cake is TFC’s equalizer against the Philadelphia Union with Andre Blake (Jamaica keeper) in the net. How many times have you seen goalkeepers go out of their goal and move into the opposing team’s area on set plays for what is anticipated as the last play of the game to try and help their team score an important goal?
Against Philly, TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran went down and scored a goal to tie the game 3-3 on the last play of the match. In all my years, I’ve never seen a goalkeeper score from a live game, and I suspect there might be more firsts to come in what is a crazy set of happenings at BMO Field. Hopefully, it’s in TFC’s favour since Josh Sargent scored to start the Reds’ comeback and seemed to be getting into a scoring groove.
However, I’ve seen bloopers, but never in a live game as I did at BMO on this home stand, where a goalkeeper missed a back pass from his defender, resulting in an own goal. Tonight, 12 Zane Monlouis made a defensive clearance at the outside left edge of the 18-yard box, and the ball deflected off Philly’s Dantley Jacques and went into the roof of the TFC net for a 2-0 Philly lead.
Tonight’s game against Philly is the second of the 6-game home stand, during which TFC has erased a 2-goal lead. In the previous match against Colorado Rapids, TFC won 3-2.
However, hats off to TFC goalkeeper Gavran, whose goal should give his team a tremendous lift for the upcoming game on Saturday against Atlanta United. I guess you’ll have to stay tuned for more of the BMO madness!!
20260411 Toronto FC v Cincinnati FC, Draws the game (c) Gerard Richardson
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser was not entirely satisfied with his team’s performance but seemed willing to look at the glass as half full after his team drew the game against FC Cincinnati at BMO Field after allowing an equalizer in time added on.
For this game on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Coach Fraser tweaked his starting lineup by bringing in#12 Zane Monlouis, #3 Matheus Pereira and #11 Derrick Etienne Jr. for Walker Zimmerman, Deandre Kerr and Raheem Edwards, who received a red card in the last game.
Richardson20260411 Toronto FC v Cincinnati FC, Draws the game (c) Gerard Richardson
It was the second meeting between the two Eastern Conference teams, and the familiarity made the game a seesaw battle. Both goalkeepers earned their paychecks when called upon, and the teams went into halftime scoreless thanks to TFC goalkeeper Garvan making a point-blank reflex save in the six-yard box from Tom Barlow
Toronto got a break in the 83rd minute when Josh Sargent’s header was redirected by Gilberto Flores into his own net, which gave Toronto the lead.
Cincinnati equalized in time added-on when Kenji Mboma made no mistake after he received a pass from the left side to level the score 1-1.
Toronto FC is in a playoff spot in 6th place on the Eastern Conference standings with 3 wins, 2 losses, and 2Ties, for 11 points
TFC Introduce DP Josh Sargent
Photo: President Keith Pelley, TFC GM Jason Hernandez, Josh Sargent and TFC Manager Robin Fraser
After clearing the red tape with availability and negotiations to acquire his services, Toronto FC officially introduced forward, Josh Sargent as their Designated Player (DP) on March 4, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto.
The 26 year old American International forward was introduced by MLSE President Keith Pelley, TFC GM Jason Hernandez, and TFC Manager Robin Fraser.
Sargent contract is through the 2030-31 Major League Soccer season and his signing should add some scoring fire power in the scoring department to a TFC offense that struggled in 2025. However, while Rome was not built in a day, it is conceivable that with some additional helped, Sargent and the Reds should be a playoff contender.
Sargent joined Toronto from Norwich City in England’s second-tier League Championship on Friday, where he was demoted to the under-21 squad when he refused to play in an FA Cup match last month.
However, during the contract negotiation and his release he seemed to have left a lasting impression on Norwich sporting director. his club on good terms.
“Regardless of the manner of his departure, Josh has been a significant part of the club’s recent story, contributing greatly and captaining the team on many occasions,” Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper said in a statement. “He now moves on and we wish him well for his next step, and for his future beyond.”
On the receiving end here at Toronto FC, Coach Robin Fraser and General Manager, Jason Hernandez indicated that Josh had ticked off all the boxes as a player and as a person, on and off the field.
“He brings high-level experience in some of the strongest leagues in the world and entering the prime of his career while representing our club and our city with an international pedigree at just 26 years old, Hernandez has said during the move. “He is a proven goal scorer, with a winning mentality and the intelligence that will lead our attack for years to come,” said Jason Hernandez
Stars Soccer Review News
Stars Soccer Review has released Part One of our upcoming magazine, “Toronto Caribbean Soccer History,” for Black History Month. It covers interviews with community members who explain what they encountered when they arrived in those early days, up to the formation of the first Caribbean Sports Club, West Indies United.
Part One also covers how West Indians built their community and showcased their culture at the Centennial festival in 1967 before they gained government approval, and created their own festival, called Caribana, which is now the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
The Caribbean people have made many contributions since Expo 67 and the Centennial of 1967. However, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, launched as Caribana in 1968, was their first primary imprint on Toronto and Canada.
20260411 Toronto FC v Cincinnati FC, Draws the game (c) Gerard Richardson
