Preparing for a Confrontation
In a tightly contested match played on August 16, 2025, at Stade Boréale in Montréal, Ottawa Rapid clinched a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Roses. This win propelled Ottawa to second place in the Northern Super League (NSL) standings, while Montreal dropped to third.
The match saw Ottawa's top scorer, Delaney Pridham, score both goals early in the game at the 8th and 16th minutes. Montreal maintained a strong defensive structure and dominated possession, but failed to convert their opportunities into goals.
Montreal introduced new players like Chaerim, Mara Bouchard, Mathilde Lachance, and Claire Monyard in the second half in an attempt to inject energy. Olivia Mbala earned her first professional start in this match.
Ottawa's defense remained solid, successfully repelling Montreal's advances after a closely fought first half. Pridham's sharp attacking performance stood out as the key to their victory.
Montreal Roses have shown strong buildup play but need more "meanness" or aggressiveness in the final attacking third to improve finishing and chance conversion, as noted by their manager Russo Toyu. The team is also dealing with off-field changes, with player Latifah Abdu requesting contract release.
The Roses currently sit in second place in the NSL standings with 25 points, while Toronto leads with 32 points, having played two more games. Delaney Baie Pridham, the best attacker in the NSL, will face the Montreal Roses, who have the best defense in the league in an upcoming match.
Midfielder Allie Hess will be out for the upcoming match due to pain unrelated to a recent impact. Julia Leas, who has been out since her ankle injury on May 25, is nearing a return to play.
The new recruit for the Montreal Roses, South Korean Chaerim Kang, is still in the process of adapting to the language. Kang played in a friendly match against McGill University last Sunday and will repeat the experience this Sunday.
Coach Robert Rositoiu is happy with the team's performance and feels they are entering the final stretch of the season on a high. However, the team's issue remains their finishing, as they had 18 shots, 5 on target, 10 corners, and 22 crosses in the match against Toronto, but only scored one goal.
Julia Leas participated in drills at practice this week wearing an orange non-contact jersey, and coach Rositoiu expects her to be non-contact for another week. Goalkeeper Anna Karpenko appreciates Kang both for her football skills and as a person, describing her as polite and respectful.
Captain Mégane Sauvé believes the team rushes or doesn't make the right choice when attacking, and emphasizes the importance of being clinical in the box. Kang understands most soccer terms on the field and receives help off the field from her interpreter.
Coach Robert Rositoiu believes that Kang is a talented ball player and prefers to let her play without excessive communication. The Roses recently had a Korean barbecue experience with Kang.
Despite the loss, Montreal head coach Robert Rositoiu believes they've "turned a corner" after losing 2-1 to Toronto at home last week. The team will look to improve their finishing and capitalize on chances in their next match.
In the upcoming match against Delaney Baie Pridham and Ottawa Rapid, Montreal Roses will aim to show more "meanness" or aggressiveness in the final third to convert their chances, as their manager, Russo Toyu, has observed. Meanwhile, the Roses' new recruit, Chaerim Kang, continues to adapt to the language, having played in a friendly match against McGill University and set to play again this Sunday.
