THE ATENEO Lady Eagles were dismissed by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, 1-7, in their Philippine Football Federation Women’s League (PFFWL) second round opener on Sunday, October 15, at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
Despite the loss, the Lady Eagles still remain in sixth place in the league table at 14 points with a 4-2-4 record and a -5 goal difference.
The Blue and White were without Team Captain Nona Amoncio, defender Annika Ong, and veteran Mariane Caparros, all due to academic requirements.
The Golden Tigresses began brightly with numerous chances, and eventually made the breakthrough in the 11th minute with Hazel Lustan calmly finishing her one on one chance against Ateneo goalkeeper Inah Labung, 0-1. The España-based side doubled their lead in the 22nd minute with Nina Yanto’s first-time strike inside the box flying into the Ateneo goal, 0-2.
After taking possession of the ball for most of the first half, two late goals in quick succession would allow UST a four-goal cushion heading into the halftime break. After nifty passing by the UST attack, a 44th minute attempt on goal by MJ Indac rattled the post and bounced in for UST’s third of the match, 0-3. Just two minutes later, UST substitute Nathalie Absalon, fresh off the bench, tapped in a goal with her first touch of the contest to leave the Lady Eagles with a mountain to climb as the halftime whistle blew, 0-4.
The Lady Eagles started the second half like a team transformed. After UST attacker Charisa Lemoran missed a golden chance to score from short range in the 47th minute, Lady Eagle Tessa Bernardo found herself with a free kick opportunity in the 49th minute. As the only player behind the ball, the Ateneo striker took a rocket of a shot that found its way into the far corner to give the Lady Eagles their first goal of the match, 1-4.
Despite two chances to score, the Lady Eagles remained stunted at one goal. In the 55th minute, a cross from the right wing by Martie Bautista found Nicole Bugayong, whose first touch failed her in front of goal. In the 56th minute, Bernardo released Bautista on a counterattack leaving her and UST keeper Nicole Reyes to a joust in front of goal. However, the Lady Eagle striker’s shot was blocked by Reyes.
It did not take long for UST to punish Ateneo for their missed chances. In the 58th minute, Absalon doubled her goal tally after heading in a rebound off a powerful shot by Lemoran that was initially blocked by Lubang, 1-5
Although the Lady Eagles brought in Moira Lim for Lubang between the sticks as well as Pam Diaz for Bea Velasco to stabilize the midfield, the changes came to no avail as Absalon got herself a hat trick in the 70th minute after finishing off a decisive UST counterattack, 1-6.
Lemoran scored the Golden Tigresses’ final game of the match in the 80th minute, finishing off the attacking onslaught in style. The Philippine National Team member took the ball just outside the box and looped over a shot that went beyond Lim’s reach and into the back of the net, 1-7.
After the match, Ateneo Coach Power Valeroso identified the midfield as a problem area for the team. “In terms of experience ng midfield nila (UST) compared sa midfield ng Ateneo, napakalika ng gap. Kailangan talaga trabahuin pero gagawin namin ng paraan. (In terms of experience between UST’s midfield and Ateneo’s midfield, the gap is very big. We really need to work on it, but we’ll find a solution to it.)
Starting Lineups:
Ateneo XI: Lubang (GK), Fernan, Catedrilla, Calimbo, Naguiat, Bugayong, Velasco, Panganiban, Almeda, Bautista, Bernardo
UST XI: Reyes (GK), Cleofe, Lustan, Yanto, Lopez, Espiritu, Dela Rosa, Cadag, Indac, San Buenaventura
Substitutions:
Ateneo: 32’ Soriano in for Fernan, 61’ Lim in for Labung, 67’ Diaz in for Velasco, 71’ Liwanag in for Bugayong, 74’ Javier in for Panganiban, 77’ Manalo in for Bautista
UST: 44’ Absalon in for Yanto, 45+1’ Esperancilla in for Dela Rosa, 46’ Sumilang in for Reyes 65’ Pascual in for San Buenaventura, 67’ Tamayo for Indac, 67’ Abo-Abo in for Cleofe
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