Down but not out, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses clawed their way back past the University of the Philippines (UP) Women’s Football Team with a late penalty goal for a 1-1 draw in the season 85 opener of the UAAP women’s football tournament Saturday evening at the UP Football Stadium in Quezon City.
Diminutive substitute striker Nathalie Absalon volleyed the tying penalty kick awarded off a UP handball inside UST’s penalty box in the 88th minute.
Earlier, Maroon forward Kamea Mangrobang goaled off a leakout play in the 16th minute, with Bianca Torres issuing the through pass.
UP employed the same transition offense off leakouts but the Tigresses kept pace with their defensive transition.
UST had the clearer chance for the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the game but the running attack of Absalon was stymied by the defense of fullback Jennifer Baroin.
“I encouraged them to create more opportunities and chances to score. Somehow yan yung pinilit naming trabahuin noong second half. It’s just a matter of executing our plays na hindi namin magawa nung first half,” commented UST coach Aging Rubio on her team’s comeback.
She lamented, though, the poor officiating of the match, citing a number of missed handball and foul calls.
“Dapat ma-train pa lalo ang mga referee, magkaroon ng refresher, kasi top level competition ang UAAP,” she said.
UP head coach Anto Gonzales, for his part, attributed UST’s comeback to his team’s “sluggishness.”
“We look tired. We had our chances but we couldn’t finish,” he said.
