UNABLE TO sustain momentum from their first win, the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) succumbed to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in a 0-6 blowout. This game marked Ateneo’s opening match for the second round of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 eliminations, played earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.
This result keeps the Blue Eagles in fourth place in the standings with four points and a goal differential of -17.
The opening half of the Battle of Katipunan witnessed the Loyola-based team being overwhelmed by the Diliman-based squad’s early goal, courtesy of UP midfielders Aurea Reaso and Kamea Mangrobang, leading to a 0-1 deficit.
Attempting to counter the attack, the Blue Eagles bolstered their defense with rookie forward Angelly Alferez thwarting a close attempt on goal right after. However, their defensive engine ran dry after a midfield turnover propelled UP’s Maria Bianca Torres into a scoring opportunity in the 11th minute, 0-2.
Throughout the matchup, Ateneo persistently sought to induce interceptions and advance toward the goal. However, swift maneuvers by UP’s Anya Fuentes staved off any attempts from the Blue Eagles to seize possession. The Blue Eagles’ aggressive attempts to jumpstart their offense were exploited by the same midfielder, who scored a goal from within the box in the 22nd minute, 0-3.
Despite demonstrating renewed offense prowess, the Loyola-based team faced disappointment, as UP’s keeper denied Alferez’s last-ditch effort to score in the 45th minute. Adding to Ateneo’s woes, Fuentes capitalized during added time with a long-range strike, burying the Blue Eagles under a grueling 0-4 deficit by halftime.
In the 56th minute, the Fighting Maroons found another opportunity to extend their margin with a chance inside the box. However, Atenean goalkeeper Adrielle Lee managed to come up with an impressive save despite nearly losing control of the leather.
The Blue and White continued to suffer from UP’s long goal by midfielder Hannah Muros in the 70th minute. In the last minute of added time to end the match, Ateneo failed to evade UP’s Andrea Montilla who hammered the final nail in the coffin, 0-6.
Hoping to get back on the win column, the Blue Eagles will go back to the drawing board as they face the University of Santo Tomas Lady Booters next Saturday, April 13, at 6:30 PM at the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (0): Lee (GK), Tuaño, Tolentino, Samonte, Zalamea, Francisco (C), Alferez, Espiritu, Lim, Napoles, Eval
UP (6): Eduave (GK), Chua, Fuentes, Baroin, Torres, Kim, Mangrobang, Napiza (C), Facturanan, Reaso, Muros
Standings (Points, Goal Difference):
- DLSU Lady Booters (12, +14)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (12, +12)
- UP Fighting Maroons (4, +2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4, -17)
- UST Lady Booters (0, -11)
