Marie-Yasmine Alidou netted the decisive goal from a penalty kick in the 55th minute, leading the Montreal Roses to a 2-0 victory over AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League clash on Sunday. Elyse Bennett contributed to the win with her ninth goal of the season, providing additional security 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 level the score for Toronto, her goal in the 68th minute was disallowed due to an offside ruling. In a strong defensive display, Roses’ goalkeeper Anna Karpenko faced 20 shots, with nine on target, and successfully kept a clean sheet.

On the opposing end, Toronto’s goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo encountered seven shots, five of which were on target. The Roses took the field for the first time following the dismissal of head coach Robert Rositoiu, who was relieved of his duties after a surprising 1-0 defeat to semi-professional outfit Simcoe County in the W Canadian Championship.

The Montreal Roses emerged victorious in a convincing fashion against AFC Toronto, showcasing their resilience and determination under new coaching leadership.