THE ATENEO Women’s Football Team (AWFT) succumbed to defending Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Women’s League champions Kaya F.C.–Iloilo, 2-7, suffering their second-straight defeat. The match happened earlier this evening, March 7, at the Circuit Makati Blue Pitch in the City of Makati.
Following this setback, the Blue Eagles maintain the fifth-best record in the standings in Ang Liga Filipina’s second weekend of play.
Going up against the reigning domestic league titleholders, the Blue and White were in for a special opportunity to gain valuable offseason experience. Not letting the opportunity go to waste, Ateneo maintained a fairly solid defensive display against the professional squad, backed by former AWFT legend Cam Rodriguez.
The Blue Eagles managed to contain Kaya’s threats up until Shelah Cadag struck from far outside the box. The 2023 PFF Most Valuable Player’s 11th-minute long-range, low-drive effort broke the deadlock in Kaya’s favor, 0-1.
Just two minutes later, Ateneo found themselves on the short end of an ill-timed sequence when Kaya rookie Jonela Albiño converted on a rebound, off a shot that struck the crossbar.
Keeping in step on the defensive end, Ateneo put up a gallant stand in manning their box with goalkeeper Brielle Baca making crucial saves in the 26th and 28th minutes. Their organized backline continued to shine throughout the next 10 minutes, denying Kaya entry from set pieces.
However, the Blue and White ran out of luck in the 42nd minute when Baca rushed off her line in an attempt to clear. With the ball still at Dionesa Tolentin’s feet, the FIFA Futsal World Cup goalscorer calmly slotted the ball into an open net, as Ateneo went down 0-3.
In a similar sequence, Baca found herself out of position once more in the first minute of added time, allowing Tolentin to double her output and send the Blue Eagles into the break trailing 0-4.
Following the end of halftime, Ateneo’s defense continued to crumble when the midfield opened with a clear lane to the goalpost. Despite the Blue Eagles collapsing on the ball, Tolentin completed her hat trick with a powerful kick that was too fast for Baca. Ateneo’s disjointedness persisted in the 56th minute when their opponents’ speed granted them the score, digging the Blue Eagles into a deeper hole, 0-6.
The Blue and White then found themselves with a pair of golden opportunities, starting at the 61st minute coming off a substitution where veteran keeper Chelssy Casals entered the contest. Dribbling through bodies of defenders, Jada Bicierro sent an arcing shot near the corner line that almost floated into the net. Minutes later, Celina Salazar caught Bicierro on the run where she snuck in Ateneo’s first goal of the tournament on the left corner of the goalpost, 1-6.
Down the field, Casals’ defensive gamble of staying up cost the Blue Eagles another goal at the hands of Kaya’s Tolentin as Ateneo went down 1-7. In the midst of a heated sequence at the 74th mark, Kaya FC’s confusion on a no-call led to Salazar calmly rolling the ball into the net for Ateneo’s second score, 2-7.
From then on, the AWFT displayed remarkable defensive intensity as the rotation broke up numerous attacks, led by Casals’ fast reaction time that denied Kaya multiple goals. Despite the Blue Eagles ending the final frame with an impressive showing on both ends of the field, Ateneo still fell to the defending PFF champions, 2-7.
The Blue and White will continue to seek their first victory in the tournament against Makati F.C. on March 22, Sunday, at 6:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (2): Baca (GK), Schroth, Tolentino, Alferez, Salazar, Zalamea, Halili, Espiritu, Bicierro, Eval, Ltylle
Kaya F.C. (7): Palacios (GK), Gerona, Cadag, Rodriguez, Cuenco, Tolentin, Balacua, Mendaño, Onrubia, Fontamillas, Altiche
Standings — Points (GD):
- Stallion Laguna F.C. – 6 (+28)
- Kaya F.C.–Iloilo – 3 (+5)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 0 (0)
- Makati F.C. – 0 (0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 0 (-12)
- NU Lady Bulldogs – 0 (-21)
