Marie-Yasmine Alidou secured a crucial goal from a penalty kick in the 55th minute, leading the Montreal Roses to a 2-0 victory over AFC Toronto in the recent Northern Super League match. Elyse Bennett further boosted the Roses with her ninth goal of the season, providing a comfortable lead for the second-ranked team (9-4-3) in their inaugural game under interim head coach Maryse Bard-Martel.
Despite a strong effort from Shelina Zadorsky, who appeared to level the score for third-placed Toronto (7-5-4) in the 68th minute, her goal was disallowed due to an offside ruling. Goalkeeper Anna Karpenko of the Roses impressed with a stellar performance, facing 20 shots, including nine on target, and securing a clean sheet for her team.
On the opposing side, Toronto keeper Sabrina D’Angelo faced seven shots, five of which were on target. This match marked the Roses’ first appearance following the dismissal of head coach Robert Rositoiu, who was let go after a surprising 1-0 defeat against semi-pro side Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.
The Montreal Roses displayed resilience and skill in their victory over AFC Toronto, setting a positive tone for their future performances in the league.