Montreal Rose beat Toronto 2:0 in the National Superleague regular season on Saturday evening. The away side took all three points at BMO Field, moving within touching distance of the top of the table.
The result narrows the gap between second and third. Both clubs now sit on 31 points, though Montreal have played one fewer match. Toronto remain third after 18 games, while Montreal Rose are second with 17 under their belt.
Toronto arrived in decent shape after a 6:0 demolition of Calgary Wild on August first. That was their fourth win in five league outings, and they looked comfortable in attack. But the momentum stalled against a well-drilled opposition.
Montreal Rose had been less consistent. They lost 0:1 to Halifax Tides on August seventh and had not won since beating Vancouver Rise 4:3 on July thirtieth. Two defeats in three games before this fixture suggested they needed something to turn.
They got it, and by then the pattern was familiar. Montreal Rose had already beaten Toronto 2:0 on July twenty-third. The visitors knew how to handle the hosts, and they did not need to chase the game.
What this means going forward is simple. Montreal Rose hold the tie in their own hands if they keep winning. Toronto will have to find a way to close the gap with a game in hand, and that is not going to be easy.