There is no direct route to title retention for De La Salle University as a Hail Mary from Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Dionesa Tolentin brought the University of the Philippines (UP) Football Stadium down for a 1-1 draw in the final elimination round match of the UAAP Season 86 women’s football tournament on Saturday evening.

Tolentin’s volley from the center half circle came seconds after the opening goal by forward Maria Layacan in the 45th minute.

The result was reminiscent of the defending champions’ previous game—a similar breadstick draw against UP two weeks ago—where they conceded a goal seconds after the opener by Stephanie Goñe at the tailend of the first half.

Layacan had a chance to break the deadlock in the 54th minute with an onside solo run in the center box but her left-footed strike went a little wide left.

Moreover, the Lady Archers squandered three free kicks on goal from top of the box from Rochelle Mendaño and Christine Pañares that were all handily saved by Jessa Lehayan.

“It’s the mentality of my team that we should work on. They didn’t know what to do,” La Salle head coach Hans-Peter Smit said, ruing his wards’ lackadaisical defense after scoring a goal.

“They have to wake up,” Smit said about the Lady Archers heading into the do-or-die playoff match against UP.

La Salle sits at 14 tournament points with four wins, two draws, and two losses similar to the Lady Maroons.

On the other hand, the Lady Tamaraws are sitting pretty with 19 tournament points off six wins, one draw, and one loss.

“We had a lot of good chances in attacking, andami naming supply ng balls in front, pero hindi lang talaga nagwo-work sa harapan,” said FEU head coach Let Dimzon, saying that UP is her preferred opponent in the final.

The La Salle-UP playoff game for the right to face FEU is on May 13.

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