AFC Toronto continued their strong early-season form with a composed 2-0 road victory over Montréal Roses FC on Thursday at Stade Boréale. A first-half strike from Esther Okoronkwo and a second-half finish by Emma Regan proved enough to secure all three points and lift Toronto level with Montréal at the top of the standings.
First-Half Breakthrough
The first half saw both teams probe cautiously, looking for weaknesses in each other’s setups. Montréal attempted to dictate play through the midfield quartet of Bilbault, Hess, Paquin, and Sauvé, but AFC Toronto remained compact and organized out of possession, waiting for opportunities to counter.
Toronto's patience paid off in the 34th minute when forward Esther Okoronkwo broke the deadlock. With a burst of pace down the right side, Okoronkwo cut into the box and fired a precise left-footed shot that beat Montréal keeper Anna Karpenko to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Second-Half Seal
Montréal came out with urgency in the second half, pressing higher and looking for a response, but struggled to break down Toronto’s resolute back line. Just past the hour mark, Toronto doubled their advantage. In the 66th minute, Emma Regan found space in the heart of the box and rifled a right-footed finish into the net to make it 2-0 - ultimately sealing the result.
Match Stats
- Possession: Toronto narrowly controlled the pace of play with 51% possession to Montréal’s 49%. Their composed buildup and crisp ball movement helped them manage the game in key moments.
- Total Shots: Toronto registered 10 total shots to Montréal’s 8, converting their attacking sequences into more frequent and dangerous chances over the course of the match.
- Accurate Passes: Montréal connected on 247 passes while Toronto completed 267, underscoring the visitors' edge in fluidity and transition throughout the 90 minutes.
Looking Ahead
The result pulls Toronto even with Montréal at the top of the standings, with both sides sitting on 10 points. Toronto’s record improves to 3-1-1, while Montréal drop to 2-1-2 with the loss - their first at home this season.
Both teams will head into the international break looking to regroup and refocus for the next phase of the season. AFC Toronto will return to action on Friday, June 7, when they host Ottawa Athletic FC. Montréal Roses FC will also be back on June 7, facing Vancouver Rise FC in a key matchup on home turf.
For full match statistics, lineups, and a play-by-play feed, and info on how to tune into the next match visit the official NSL game page: