THE ATENEO Women’s Football Team secured its third victory with a 2-0 sweep in the Philippine Football Federation Women’s League (PFFWL) fixture against Fuego España on Saturday, July 1, at the Rizal Memorial Field in Manila.

Fresh off a draw in their last game against Green Archers United (GAU) Football Club, the Lady Eagles refocused to beat the España-based squad, keeping their opponent at a winless pedigree.

The match was listless early on, with neither team managing to gain the edge. Battering the opposition with offensive set-ups and counter-attacks, the Lady Eagles held a lion’s share of possession throughout the game and held the advantage in shots taken. Fuego España, composed mainly of former University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) players, was forced to play a high backline, sending most of the team defending in their own third.

The stalemate was finally broken late in the first half, from a long distance effort by midfielder Pam Diaz. She received the ball from Cam Rodriguez 30-yards away through a one-two, then promptly fired a shot that rocketed past the keeper to draw first blood shortly before half-time.

The Lady Eagles were marred by bad luck in the second-half despite retaining the 1-0 lead. In the 54th minute, Rodriguez nearly doubled the score after breaking away with a good run on the left wing, but the ensuing shot hit the left post. Seventeen minutes later, Fuego España would dodge the bullet yet again, as Tessa Bernardo’s header off the cross rattled the opposite post.

With their offensive efforts finally bearing fruit, the girls in blue were able to double the lead in the dying moments of the match through a sublime strike by Bernardo. Two minutes into added time, the midfielder received the ball at the edge of the box then curled in a shot that sailed over the reach of the Fuego España keeper, sealing the game for the Lady Eagles at 2-0.

In spite of nabbing a third win in the tournament, Diaz asserted that the team still had things to improve on regarding their conversion of chances on the attacking third of the pitch.

“Sobrang nahirapan kami all throughout [the match], kasi sobrang last minute lang kami nakaka-score (The whole match was difficult for us because we were only able to score at the last minute),” the midfielder explained. “We have to improve more on our finishing.”

The Ateneo Women’s Football Team’s next match in the PFFWL will be against Outkast FC on Sunday, July 2, 8:00 AM, at the Rizal Memorial Field in Manila.

Starting XIs:

Ateneo: Ong, Rodriguez, Amoncio, Diaz, Catedrilla N., Catedrilla M., Velasco, Almeda, Bautista, Montelibano, Calimbo

Fuego España: Bellosillo, Besana, Canilao, Chua, Comia, Flameno, Mondragon, Ortiz, Redondo, Chua, Jalbuena