The Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) played out a 0-0 draw against the Far Eastern University (FEU) in their third match of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Football tournament on February 14, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
This draw leaves the Lady Eagles with a 1-1-1 win-draw-loss record in the tournament, with a total of four points and a goal difference of +1.
The AWFT’s midweek clash followed the shock loss of De La Salle University (DLSU) to the University of Santo Tomas (UST), opening up a chance for Ateneo or FEU to claim the top spot in the league with a win.
Both teams started fast and focused on scoring early on in the game. FEU got its hands on the first real threat at goal, but goalkeeper Mariane Caparros looked to be in fine form by pushing the shot away for the corner. Caparros was called into action a few more times before the Lady Eagles found their first opportunity via a through ball to forward Tessa Bernardo. The Lady Eagle took the ball down cleverly, but failed to get her shot off.
Both teams found opportunities quite limited further into the half, with Nona Amoncio’s free kick being the only real threat at goal for the Lady Eagles before half-time.
The second half saw both teams push forward more often, with FEU narrowly missing out on scoring straight from the kick-off and Ateneo defender Icee Calimbo shooting just off target from a free kick five minutes later. Coming into the squad for the sidelined Jill Panganiban, rookie winger Martina Ferrer found two glorious chances inside the opposition’s penalty box, but had to settle for winning corners each time.
Ateneo looked to be clear on goal after forward Martie Bautista latched onto a ball just before the halfway line and sped on ahead of FEU’s high defense, but the linesman incorrectly waved for offside–a decision which the Ateneo crowd met with jeers and boos. Not long after, Bernardo found the ball inside the FEU penalty box and fell down after a rash challenge, which was again waved away by the referee.
The Lady Eagles continued to craft chances, but could not find the breakthrough as both sides settled for a point each.
Speaking after the match, Team Captain Amoncio admitted that she was pleased with her squad’s tenacity despite missing out on the win.
“We were really after the win, but the way we performed today, it really gave justice to how we prepared for FEU. We made the necessary changes in training and [went for the win].”
Speaking on their break from action ahead of a round-ending clash against rivals DLSU, she said, “Preparation-wise, we will be more ready. Given one week, we will be able to prepare better defensively and offensively.”
The Lady Eagles will face off against DLSU on February 24, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Ateneo Starting XI: Caparros (GK), Bugayong, Cabrera, Calimbo, Villaflor, Catedrilla, Diaz, Amoncio (C), Ferrer, Bautista, Bernardo
Ateneo Substitutions:
90’ – Javier on for Ferrer
