LAVAL, QC — When Diana Matheson created the Northern Super League, she wanted Canada’s best athletes to be able to play professionally in Canada. Thursday’s match between the Montreal Roses and AFC Toronto proved that Matheson’s lofty dream is coming true. The match saw the league debuts of three Canadian players with senior national team experience: Sabrina D’Angelo, Shelina Zadorsky and Mimi Alidou.
Toronto came away with a 2-0 win, in large part thanks to D’Angelo and Zadorsky’s defensive contributions. Center back Zadorsky was tasked with marking Montreal’s Elyse Bennett, who has taken the league by storm this season and trails only Ottawa Rapid superstar D.B. Pridham in the Golden Boot race.
“From afar, I’ve been watching [the NSL], and I think it’s exciting to see the growth in the league. It’s competitive,” Zadorsky said after the match. “Players are fit, they’re hard-working, you can see teams playing out, you can see tactics out there, so I think that’s really good. It’s a challenge, and I’m enjoying it so far. I think each team will pose different threats, and as a defender that’s what you want.”
Zadorsky’s extensive experience — she’s played in the WSL, NWSL, Damallsvenskan, and A-League — did her well, and Bennett was unable to get past her. No wonder she’s earned 119 national team caps.
“It’s pretty surreal to say that I’m playing professional football in my home country. I think it’s still sinking in, but to do that here today and get the win and the clean sheet, and just to be welcomed into this group from the staff and the players, I think it’s been really special,” said the London, Ontario native. “So it’s a performance to build on and I’m really happy to be home.”
On the rare chances that Montreal did threaten the net, D’Angelo was there to guard it. The keeper, who has earned 24 national team caps, made a critical save on Lorie Thibault’s shot in second half stoppage time to keep the clean sheet. D’Angelo joined the Ontarian club from Aston Villa and has also played in the NWSL and Damallsvenskan.
Of D’Angelo and Zadorsky, Toronto manager Marko Milanović said, “They definitely gave us a lift, and I think a sense of security and confidence for the players around them, and they obviously performed quite well.”
Toronto’s first goal, scored just after halftime, originated with a long goal kick from D’Angelo to youngster Kaylee Hunter. Hunter trapped the ball and snuck a through ball between Montreal defenders, which Lauren Rowe pounced on and shot past keeper Anna Karpenko.
Drama ensued 24 minutes later when Montreal midfielder Chloe Minas picked up a second yellow card, earning an ejection. Hunter made the most of the resulting free kick, shooting the ball over the Roses’ wall and into the top corner of the net. A short-sided Montreal couldn’t make up the two-goal deficit.
“I respect Toronto a lot; I’ve said that many times. But I think for me, we lost this game more than they won,” Roses manager Robert Rositoiu said. “But after that, they pushed well, they were very good attacking. I think last year we saw a different gap between these two teams that we don’t see this year anymore.” Last year, Toronto had the best regular season record in the league, while Montreal finished in fourth place.
Mimi Alidou, a Montreal native, started for the Roses and played for 59 minutes. She played mostly in the middle of the pitch, a departure from her more typical winger role. The second-place side was unable to expand the width of the pitch, which is usually a strength for them. Instead, their attacks went through the middle of the field and were thwarted by a strong Toronto midfield and, when it came to it, Zadorsky and D’Angelo.
“Montreal has so many weapons up top, now with Mimi coming on board too — she’s one of the best players in the league automatically,” Milanović said. “It’s difficult because there’s a number of players that can hurt you, so you have to be very organized. I thought we did really well today with that, and I thought that was probably the key for our win.”
Alidou was a midseason transfer from the Portland Thorns, where she appeared in 12 matches in 2026. Before joining the Thorns in 2025, she played in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino, ÖFB-Frauenliga, Toppserien, Liga F, Damallsvenskan, and Première Ligue. She has 22 caps for Canada.
Montreal recently lost standout winger Chaerim Kang, who left the club to be closer to her family in Korea. They’ll look to iron out the new lineup to keep up their winning ways.
“I’m looking for a win the next game,” Alidou said after the match. “I think this team is ambitious and we shouldn’t settle for anything less than a win.”
In the grand scheme of things, the match is something for both teams to celebrate. Each of Thursday’s debutantes played for a dizzying array of clubs all over the world before arriving in the NSL — home.
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