DESPITE A promising final 15 minutes that saw the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) generate successive chances on the counter, the Lady Eagles opened their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 campaign with a 0-3 loss to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, March 2, at Circulo Verde, Quezon City.
The two sides were lively to begin the match, with both goalkeepers being tested in the opening minutes. Winger Martina Ferrer nearly drew first blood in the fifth minute, but her header from Icee Calimbo’s precise free-kick was denied by the crossbar. The Lady Tamaraws responded immediately on the counter, but a timely save by Team Captain and starting Goalkeeper Mariane Caparros kept the scores level.
5’ – Ferrer nearly draws first blood, but her headed effort from Calimbo’s free kick hits the crossbar! FEU nearly scores directly after but Caparros denies the counter.
Ateneo 0 FEU 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/XozsYtIbav
— Kirby G. Jalandoni (@Kirby_TheGUIDON) March 2, 2019
This stalemate would only last a few minutes as the Lady Tamaraws scored their first of the match in the 10th minute. A menacing run forced Caparros out of her box, but a deft cutback left the goal gaping for Joyce Onrubia to comfortably slot home. Jovelle Sudaria’s sublime strike over Caparros in the 31st minute doubled her team’s advantage, 0-2.
29’ – Goal for FEU. Sudaria doubles the lead with a curled effort from distance.
Ateneo 0 FEU 2#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/xgvZknx0cM
— Kirby G. Jalandoni (@Kirby_TheGUIDON) March 2, 2019
The Lady Eagles struggled to respond to the pair of first-half goals; the organized FEU backline kept the Lady Eagles in check. Ateneo had difficulty generating any meaningful chances throughout the first half, as FEU’s attack continued to test the Lady Eagle defense with nimble runs and dangerous balls inside the box.
The Lady Tamaraws nearly tripled their lead in the 64th minute. Sudaria capitalized on another Ateneo lapse at the back, managing to dribble past a charging Caparros to have a clear sight at goal. The crafty forward’s shot, however, drifted wide.
64’ – Sudaria chances on another lapse at the back and weaves past Caparros, but fails to score despite the wide-open goal!
Ateneo 0 FEU 2#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/CkRkIUFP7w
— Kirby G. Jalandoni (@Kirby_TheGUIDON) March 2, 2019
Ateneo tried to mount a comeback in the last 10 minutes, threatening multiple times on the counter, highlighted by Pam Diaz’s late effort which was snuffed out by the FEU defense. The Lady Tamaraws stood firm and capped off the game with a rebounded effort by Khryss Dacanay, ending the match, 0-3, in favor of the Lady Tamaraws.
90’ + 2 – Goal for FEU. Dacanay rebounds Caparros’ parry on Acibar’s ball to cap FEU’s wire-to-wire performance.
Ateneo 0 FEU 3#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/up54f39UJt
— Kirby G. Jalandoni (@Kirby_TheGUIDON) March 2, 2019
“Sa first 10 minutes, ang ganda ng chances ng girls, but we weren’t able to capitalize on them,” remarked Ateneo Head Coach Jay Pee Merida on one of the biggest factors that lead to the defeat. “After we conceded two goals, the momentum [shifted] to FEU,” he said.
(In the first ten minutes, the girls had really good chances, but we weren’t able to capitalize on them.)
The loss brings Ateneo to a 0-0-1 record with a -3 goal difference in the tournament, placing them at the bottom of the table after the first day of action.
The Lady Eagles look to bounce back in their next match as they face the defending champions De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers on Wednesday, March 6, 3:00 PM, at Circulo Verde, Quezon City.
Starting XIs:
Ateneo: Almeda, B., Almeda, J., Bautista, Bugayong, Cabrera, Calimbo, Caparros (GK, C), Diaz, Ferrer, Naguiat, Panganiban
FEU: Acibar, Belluga, Caw-it, Lam, Lecera, Onrubia, Pachejo (C), Pariña (GK), Simoy, Sudaria, Velasco.
Photo by Mark Anastacio
