THE ATENEO Blue Eagles bested the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons with a 2-1 victory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Football Tournament. The match was held earlier today, October 18, at the UP Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.
Following the results of the match, the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) is now positioned at third place in the overall team standings.
Angely Alferez was hailed Player of the Match, after her starstudded performance throughout the game, characterized by a single goal in the first half. Meanwhile, Jada Bicierro, who already led the league in goals scored, added on to her tally with a new league-high of six goals.
Upon the opening whistle, the Blue Eagles immediately orchestrated their offensive strategy, threading passes to Raya Tolentino and Jada Bicierro in the fourth minute. However, defensive lapses from Ateneo soon turned into scoring opportunities for UP’s Razi Borra by the seventh minute.
After Borra’s shot on target, Ateneo wasted no time retaliating. Celina Salazar spearheaded the Blue Eagles’ offense and seized opportunities in the 10th minute. Her commendable efforts empowered her teammate Angely Alferez, who executed perfectly calculated shots, to draw first blood for the Blue and White in the 14th minute, 1-0.
This impressive showing from the Loyola Heights-based squad pressured UP to level the playing field, with Patricia Espinosa attempting from beyond the box in the 22nd minute. Consequently, Ateneo skipper KC Zalamea capitalized on the Fighting Maroons’ loose passes to lock their succeeding attempts in scoring a goal. This prompted UP to intercept, which gated Ateneo’s offensive chances in the 28th minute.
Down the stretch, veteran Bicierro aimed to pull away for more goals in the 34th and 35th minutes. However, her wide attempts failed to meet the back of the net.
As the first half came to a close, the midfield was characterized by increased physicality. During the 43rd minute, play centralized in the Blue Eagles’ territory, with Blue Eagle defenders securing the box. Despite extended minutes, Ateneo’s defense prevailed to seal their one-nil advantage by halftime.
The Blue and White were forced to pick up the pace on the defensive end to start the second half, with the Fighting Maroons threatening to equalize. Goalkeeper Chelssy Casals proved pivotal for Ateneo in the first five minutes off the break, coming up with timely saves for her side.
By the 60-minute mark, the Blue Eagles finally emerged in their own third of the pitch, with Bicierro sending an excellent ball forward to Salazar. This sequence led to the striker finding Alferez in the middle for a good look on goal, though failing to manufacture a separator.
With Ateneo regaining their aggression following an increase in possessions, a second goal was imminent for the Blue Eagles. In the 65th minute, a timely interception in the midfield by Zalamea ended up with Bicierro, who dispossessed four UP defenders to score an excellent left-footed goal, 2-0.
Casals stepped up on the defensive end as well, with a clean save on the Fighting Maroons’ free kick in the 72nd minute. UP’s Jansen Miranda was then awarded a yellow card on the opposite side of the pitch after an attempt to stifle the counterattack, with the Blue Eagles nearly converting on the resulting free kick.
However, Ateneo was not out of the clear, as the Fighting Maroons copped their first corner kick in the 82nd minute. Jeri Fracturanan connected with substitute Erisa Rivas, who headed the ball into the net to erase the Blue Eagles’ clean sheet, 2-1.
Still attempting to extend their lead, Ateneo’s Bicierro outsprinted her defenders for a last-ditch chance at the fourth minute of added time. However, it would prove to be the Blue Eagles’ final shot of the match, as the Loyola Heights-based side nabbed their hard-fought three points, 2-1.
Keeping their medal hunt alive, the Blue Eagles aim to sustain this winning formula in their next match against the De La Salle University Lady Booters next Saturday, October 25, at 4:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (2): Casals (GK), Zalamea (C), Schroth, Alferez, Salazar, Halili, Bicierro, Eval, Francisco, Tolentino, Napoles
UP (1): Sancho (GK), Borra (C), Espinosa, Fracturanan, Nairdo, Marqueses, Dizon, Moreno, Calope, Tundag, Estember
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 15 (+12)
- DLSU Lady Booters – 12 (+5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 8 (-3)
- UST Lady Booters – 5 (-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 0 (-10)
