AFC Toronto Denied Victory as Montreal Roses Strike Late for 1-1 Draw

Montreal Roses Snatch Dramatic Late Draw Against AFC Toronto

TORONTO, Ontario — June 13, 2026

AFC Toronto was left frustrated after conceding a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Montreal Roses FC on Saturday afternoon at York Lions Stadium.

The Northern Super League clash appeared destined to end in a home victory after Lauren Rowe’s second-half strike gave AFC Toronto the lead, but Montreal’s Lisa Pechersky scored in the 94th minute to rescue a point for the visitors.

Despite the disappointing finish, AFC Toronto produced one of its most complete performances of the season, limiting one of the league’s strongest teams to few clear opportunities while creating several chances of its own.

Toronto started brightly and nearly opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Kaylee Hunter struck the post. The hosts continued to apply pressure throughout the first half, forcing Montreal goalkeeper Anna Karpenko into several important saves.

Although Montreal enjoyed more possession, controlling 56 percent of the ball, AFC Toronto looked the more dangerous side in attack and remained well organized defensively.

The home side continued to push after halftime and was awarded a penalty in the 61st minute. However, Toronto was unable to convert from the spot, allowing Montreal to remain in the contest.

Toronto finally found the breakthrough seven minutes later. Following sustained pressure in the attacking third, Lauren Rowe reacted quickest to score from close range and give AFC Toronto a deserved 1-0 lead.

The goal was Rowe’s second in consecutive matches and further highlighted the development of the young forward, who has quickly become one of Toronto’s key attacking threats.

Defensively, AFC Toronto once again demonstrated why it owns the league’s best defensive record. Led by a disciplined back line, the club largely neutralized Montreal’s attack and appeared on course for all three points.

A notable moment for the hosts was the Northern Super League debut of defender Jordan Brewster, who delivered a solid performance in her first appearance for the club.

Montreal continued to press forward in the closing stages and introduced several substitutes in search of an equalizer. Among them was 16-year-old Marilou Harvey, who became the youngest player in Montreal Roses FC history to appear in a match.

As the clock moved into stoppage time, the visitors finally found their breakthrough. Lisa Pechersky, who entered the weekend as the league’s leading assist provider, found space inside the penalty area and scored in the 94th minute to level the match and secure a dramatic point for Montreal.

While AFC Toronto will view the result as two points dropped, the performance offered further evidence of the club’s growth during the inaugural Northern Super League season. Toronto created more shots, defended effectively for long stretches, and matched one of the league’s top teams throughout the afternoon.

After the match, AFC Toronto head coach Marko Milanović praised his team’s defensive performance.

“What’s encouraging for me is that we have now put together two consecutive games where we have allowed very little against us. Outside of a few moments, we controlled the defensive side of the game very well,” Milanović said.

Montreal head coach Robert Rositoiu also acknowledged the challenge posed by Toronto.

“Toronto played a strong match and gave us problems, especially in the moments when our intensity dropped. We never stopped believing and we got our reward at the end,” he said.

The result leaves AFC Toronto with valuable momentum heading into next weekend’s road trip to face Ottawa Rapid FC, while Montreal Roses FC returns home to begin a four-match homestand against Calgary Wild FC.

Match Statistics

Possession: Montreal 56% – AFC Toronto 44% Shots: AFC Toronto 12 (6 on target) – Montreal 10 (5 on target) Completed Passes: Montreal 372 – AFC Toronto 272

Corners: AFC Toronto 4 – Montreal 3 Yellow Cards: AFC Toronto 3 – Montreal 1