Marie-Yasmine Alidou secured a crucial victory for the Montreal Roses by scoring a penalty in the 55th minute, leading to a 2-0 win over AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League match held on Sunday. Elyse Bennett contributed her ninth goal of the season, providing 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.
Although Shelina Zadorsky seemed to equalize for Toronto in the 68th minute, her goal was disallowed due to an offside call. Roses goalkeeper Anna Karpenko displayed a stellar performance by fending off 20 shots, including nine on target, to secure a clean sheet for her team.
On the other side, Toronto’s goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo faced seven shots, with five on target. The Roses took the field for the first time since parting ways with head coach Robert Rositoiu following a surprising 1-0 defeat against semi-pro side Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.
This victory marks a significant moment for the Montreal Roses as they continue to navigate their season in the Northern Super League.