A stunning start from Montréal Roses FC set the tone on Saturday night as they powered past Calgary Wild FC 2-0 at Stade Boréale, securing their seventh win of the season and tightening their grip on second place in the standings. Early goals from Latifah Abdu and Tanya Boychuk gave the Roses an immediate advantage, and they never looked back.

The home side wasted no time. Just moments after kickoff, Abdu found herself on the end of a well-timed through ball and coolly finished inside the opening minute, giving Montréal a 1-0 lead before some fans had even found their seats.

The Roses doubled their lead minutes later in the 5th, when Boychuk picked up an assist from Alexandra Hess and tidily slotted the ball into the back of the net. With a two-goal cushion before the ten-minute mark, Montréal settled into their rhythm and controlled the tempo for the remainder of the match.

Montréal Controls Tempo in Statement Win
Calgary attempted to regroup after the early blows, but the Roses’ midfield dictated play, keeping the visitors chasing shadows. Montréal held 58% possession and outshot Calgary 15-6, creating sustained pressure in the attacking third while rarely allowing Calgary to settle into a flow.

The match also marked the first appearance for Calgary’s two new strikers, Kathryn Harvey and Jorian Baucom, following recent additions in the summer transfer window. Both players brought flashes of attacking promise, but Montréal’s backline kept the Wild’s chances to a minimum. Goalkeeper Anna Karpenko recorded the clean sheet, her fifth of the season, as Montréal closed out the match with disciplined defending and confident ball movement.

Match Stats
Possession: Montréal commanded the match with 58% of the ball, dictating tempo and structure.
Total Shots: The Roses posted 15 shots to Calgary’s 6, with frequent attacking waves through both flanks.
Passing Accuracy: Montréal completed 78% of their passes, compared to Calgary’s 73%, reflecting their composure and control in midfield.

Looking Ahead
With the win, Montréal Roses FC moves to 7-3-3 and remains firmly in second place, trailing only AFC Toronto in the table. They’ll head east next for a Super Saturday matchup against Halifax Tides FC on August 2.

Calgary Wild FC, now 4-7-2, falls to fifth in the standings and will look to rebound quickly as they return home to host league-leading AFC Toronto in a high-stakes Super Saturday clash at McMahon Stadium.

For full match statistics, lineups, and a play-by-play feed, visit the official NSL game page.

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