Marie-Yasmine Alidou secured the decisive goal from a penalty kick in the 55th minute, propelling the Montreal Roses to a 2-0 victory over AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League match held on Sunday. Elyse Bennett extended the lead with her ninth goal of the season for the Roses, who currently hold the second spot in the league with a record of 9-4-3. This game marked the debut of interim head coach Maryse Bard-Martel for the Roses.
Although Shelina Zadorsky seemingly equalized for Toronto in the 68th minute, her goal was disallowed due to an offside infringement. Roses’ goalkeeper Anna Karpenko showcased a stellar performance, facing a total of 20 shots, with nine on target, to secure a clean sheet for her team.
On the opposing side, Toronto’s goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo confronted seven shots, with five on target. This match was particularly significant for the Roses as it was their first game following the dismissal of head coach Robert Rositoiu. The decision to remove Rositoiu came after the Roses suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to semi-professional team Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.
Overall, the Roses displayed a strong performance under their new interim coach, securing a vital victory over AFC Toronto and maintaining their position near the top of the league standings.