Marie-Yasmine Alidou secured the decisive goal from a penalty kick in the 55th minute as the Montreal Roses triumphed over AFC Toronto with a 2-0 victory in the Northern Super League match held on Sunday. Adding to the scoreline, Elyse Bennett netted her ninth goal of the season, providing a crucial buffer for the second-ranked Roses with a record of 9 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses. This match marked the debut of interim head coach Maryse Bard-Martel for the Roses.
Despite a strong effort from Shelina Zadorsky, Toronto’s third-placed team with a record of 7 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses, her goal in the 68th minute was disallowed due to an offside ruling. Goalkeeper Anna Karpenko of the Roses displayed an outstanding performance, facing a total of 20 shots, including 9 on target, to secure a clean sheet.
On the opposing side, Toronto’s goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo was tested with 7 shots, 5 of which were on target. This match was significant for the Roses as it marked their first game after parting ways with head coach Robert Rositoiu, who was dismissed following a surprising 1-0 defeat to semi-pro team Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.