THE ATENEO Women’s Team (AWFT) concluded their Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Women’s League Cup 2022 campaign after a tantalizing match versus the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 1-2. The match was held yesterday, December 3, at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
It was a silent first 45 minutes for both squads as no one was able to take control of the midfield during the majority of the half. With the Blue Eagles constantly looking to test the Fighting Maroons’ backline, their first significant chance came during the dying moments of the first half. Ateneo’s Maria Dungo tested UP goalkeeper Frances Acelo with a looping shot after Soleil Schroth whipped in a good cross that located her. However, Acelo was quick to react as she made the routine save. Ultimately, that was the last action of the first half as both teams headed into the break level at nil-nil.
Following the resumption of play, the game was quickly put to a halt due to one of the floodlights breaking which the match officials had to clean up. After roughly 20 minutes, the match continued with the Fighting Maroons coming out strong. This aggressiveness paid off in the 71st minute when UP team captain Alyssa Jane Ube slotted in a near-post shot after beating her defender in one-on-one.
Due to the stoppage of play earlier in the second half, a total of 23 minutes were played in extra time. Looking for a reply to the opening UP goal, Blue Eagle Joyce Semacio played a dangerous through ball to Schroth in the first minute of stoppage time. However, Schroth’s shot went straight into UP keeper Acelo’s gloves. After a couple of minutes, the Blue and White found the much-needed equalizer courtesy of their talisman Semacio. The striker lashed out a left-foot shot from long range in the fourth minute of stoppage time to level the score at one apiece.
With both squads leaving it all on the line in the final few minutes of the game, the Blue Eagles conceded a throw-in after a slide tackle on the right wing. After receiving the ball, substitute Aurea Reaso came off the bench and let the ball bounce to volley it towards Ateneo goalkeeper Adrielle Lee. The looping volley was unluckily fumbled by Lee as Reaso scored the winning goal in the 20th minute of stoppage time.
Ateneo ends its PFF Women’s Cup campaign with six points, placing sixth out of eight teams in the final team standings. Only the top four teams will advance to the semifinals of the said tournament.
Editor’s Note: The writer of the article, Juris Salvanera, is the current manager of the Ateneo Men’s Football Team.
Ateneo Starting XI
(GK) Adrielle Lee
Soleil Schroth
Gabrielle Tuaño
Kassandra Zalamea
Joyce Semacio
Andrea Avedillo
(Captain) Patricia Fransisco
Pia Lumagui
Maria Angelica Dungo
Traci Lim
Princess Pelipel
UP Starting XI
(GK) Frances Acelo
Alyanna Yatco
Andrea Montilla
Khryztel Muring
Jennifer Baraoin
Yoojin Kim
Kamea Mangrobang
(Captain) Alyssa Jane Ube
Jeri Facturanan
Danielle Napiza
Alexzandrea Lagman
