Marie-Yasmine Alidou secured the decisive goal from a penalty kick in the 55th minute as the Montreal Roses emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over AFC Toronto in Northern Super League action on Sunday. Elyse Bennett contributed her ninth goal of the season to provide additional cushion for the Roses, who are currently in second place with a record of 9-4-3. This match marked the debut of interim head coach Maryse Bard-Martel for the team.
Despite Shelina Zadorsky seemingly equalizing for third-place Toronto (7-5-4) in the 68th minute, her goal was disallowed due to an offside ruling. Roses’ goalkeeper Anna Karpenko displayed a solid performance, facing a total of 20 shots, with nine on target, to secure a clean sheet.
On the opposing side, Toronto’s goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo dealt with seven shots, five of which were on target. The Roses took to the field for the first time following the dismissal of head coach Robert Rositoiu, who was let go after their surprising 1-0 loss to semi-pro side Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.
The Montreal Roses are determined to maintain their momentum as they navigate through the Northern Super League, showcasing their resilience under new coaching leadership.