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. Elyse Bennett also contributed with her ninth goal of the season, providing additional cushion for the Roses, who currently hold the second position 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.
Although Shelina Zadorsky seemed to equalize for Toronto, scoring in the 68th minute, the goal was nullified due to an offside ruling. The Roses’ goalkeeper, Anna Karpenko, was instrumental in securing the win by facing 20 shots, with 9 of them on target, and maintaining a clean sheet.
Toronto’s goalkeeper, Sabrina D’Angelo, faced a total of 7 shots, with 5 on target. This game was a significant one for the Roses as it was their first match following the dismissal of head coach Robert Rositoiu after suffering a surprising 1-0 defeat to the semi-professional team Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.
The victory against AFC Toronto showcased the Roses’ resilience and determination under new coaching leadership, setting a promising tone for their future matches in the league.