THE ATENEO Women’s Football Team conceded their match against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Booters, 2-5, in the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 tournament. The rivalry derby was held earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
This result puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-1-5 win-draw-loss record, maintaining fifth place in the overall standings.
Throughout the 90 minutes of play, Angely Alferez and Jada Bicierro were instrumental in today’s game for the Blue and White, as Alferez achieved a brace during the second half while Bicierro provided an assist for her co-forward.
At the opening whistle, Chelssy Casals quickly caught Lady Booter Tejanee Isulat’s shot, rejecting La Salle’s chance at drawing first blood. After DLSU’s early attempt for the goal, ball possession remained within Ateneo’s defensive third, allowing Ateneo defender Raya Tolentino to showcase mastery at the back end of the pitch.
Tolentino pressed aggressively on forwards Aliexa Casi and Danielle Tanjangco to minimize the Lady Booters’ scoring opportunities. At the sixth and eighth minute, DLSU’s Arantxa Trebol advanced through the Ateneo defenders, only for Casals to collect the ball in its trajectory on both occasions.
The Lady Booters maintained its possession of the ball throughout the following minutes, continuously pressing hard on forwards Alferez and Tootchie Eval. At the 20th minute, Eval went for an open shot in hopes of gaining their first goal in the second round, though the attempt was thwarted by goalkeeper Jessica Pido.
In the next minute, Casals left the goalpost to block Maegan Alforque’s shot, but the goalie anticipated too early and conceded a goal, 0-1.
Ignited to bounce back, Traci Lim maneuvered through the Lasallian midfielders to provide a quick pass through the field, albeit no Blue Eagle received her efforts.
At the 30th minute, strong pressing by Lim, alongside Team Captain KC Zalamea, and rookie defender Joshper Halili, denied their rivals’ attempts to attain their second goal. Despite this, the Lady Booters slipped through Ateneo’s improved defense, as Casi assisted Tanjangco who moved past Casals’ defensive mobility to double their advantage, 2-0.
Hustling to cut the deficit at the 41st minute, Alferez aimed the ball toward Eval for an assist, however falling short of reaching the Blue Eagle. With the first half entering stoppage time, Tolentino went one-on-one with Tanjangco at the defensive third, ultimately gaining possession until the halftime whistle.
To begin the second half, the Lady Booters quickly continued where they left off as they relentlessly hammered the Blue Eagles defense. Within the opening minutes of the final 45, DLSU’s defense proved to be tenacious, with the Taft-based squad pressing high and winning the ball back in threatening areas to provide attacking opportunities.
By the 48th minute of the match, the Lady Booters’ unrelenting pressure paid off as forward Alforque slotted in her second goal of the match, only furthering the advantage, 3-0.
Persistently hunting for their fourth goal of the match, La Salle once again found their stride as the Taft-based unit created an opportunity through a low cross that found its way to Tanjangco as she slotted in the shot, securing her brace and leading her team to a 4-0 scoreline.
Despite the daunting deficit, Alferez, together with Bicierro, refused to stay silent, as the latter found herself in behind through a gorgeous run in the 77th minute. Although met by defenders, Bicierro crossed the ball to Alferez to score the Blue Eagles’ second goal of the season, narrowing the gap, 1-4.
In the 80th minute, the Blue and White built on this newfound momentum as Alferez captured her brace through a left-footed curling shot that sailed past DLSU’s Pido, 2-4.
Despite the late game heroics of the Alferez-Bicierro duo, Lady Booter Cheney Mae Dañoso put the final nail in the coffin, scoring an impressive goal from outside the box to seal the game, 2-5.
Looking to finish the season in the win column, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will face Far Eastern University in their last match of the season on December 7, Saturday, at 4:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (2): Casals (GK), Zalamea (C), Schroth, Tuaño, Tolentino, Ignacio, Francisco, Halili, Alferez, Lim, Eval
DLSU (5): Pido (GK), Trebol (C), Isulat, Otom, Maligalig, Lubiano, Casi, Tanjangco, Alforque, Mandaño, Dañoso
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- DLSU Lady Booters – 14 (+8)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 13 (+11)
- UST Lady Booters – 5 (-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 5 (-8)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 4 (-10)
