The Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws have successfully defended the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Women’s Cup, trouncing the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Lady Maroons, 2-0, in the final Saturday evening in Carmona, Cavite.
The Lady Tamaraws displayed accurate passing and effective buildup plays and exploited the Lady Maroons’ weakness in maintaining possession as keys to victory.
Lylhanie Cayabyab scored the first goal in the 17th minute, intercepting the Lady Maroons’ lackadaisical passing in their defensive third for an easy shot.
The Lady Tamaraws had numerous chances on goal, holding at least 80 per cent of the possessions, but the defensive duo of tournament Golden Glove Coline Acelo and Best Defender Jennifer Baroin sealed FEU’s goal with much physicality and grit.
Nonetheless, the Lady Maroons were not able to build up offensively and hardly had any decent shots on goal.
An inadvertent kick by UP forward and national team standout Alyssa Ube against Lenlen Cristobal in the 90th minute led to the former’s sacking and a free kick for FEU from the far right wing of their box.
The ensuing inswing by right back Carmela Altiche resulted in the championship header by Lyka Cuenco to seal FEU’s third Women’s Cup crown in as many editions.
The Lady Tamaraws won the country’s most coveted crown in women’s football in 2015 and 2016.
“Sinet ang mind namin na manalo dito and hindi namin pinabayaan na kahit 1-0, hindi kami nakontento dun. Ayaw naming maramdaman na nakakatsamba lang kami,” Cuenco said after the game.
“We pushed ourselves na hindi lang ganito ang kaya namin, na kaya naming iangat ang game namin,” she continued.
“Walang aray, walang sakit, a hundred percent they play in the pitch and fight,” commented FEU head coach and former national mentor Let Dimzon.
Earlier, Kaya FC secured third place with a 1-0 win versus Tuloy FC in the battle for third.
FEU’s Dionesia Tolentin was named tournament Most Valuable Player while Kaya’s Shela Cadag won the Golden Boot.
Both awardees are part of the Filipinas national team pool.
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