Defending champions De La Salle University (DLSU) eked out a 1-0 squeaker against the University of the Philippines (UP) on Saturday’s do-or-die playoffs in the UAAP women’s football tournament at State U home pitch.
Before the game, both squads were tied at number two with 14 points at the end of elimination.
Super rookie and current league leading scorer Angelica Teves booted in a penalty kick in the 25th minute after Maroon wing back Kim Yoojin fouled Lady Archer midfielder Samantha Toledo inside La Salle’s penalty area.
Teves’ goal, her eighth in Season 85, was enough for La Salle to set a second consecutive final date with PFF Women’s Cup Champions Far Eastern University (FEU) on May 21 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Lady Archers are aiming for a four-peat, dating back from Season 79 (2017).
“I told them it’s either win or go home. UP is the only team that we haven’t beaten,” said La Salle head coach Hans-Peter Smit. “So I said prove yourselves, it’s the time to beat them.”
The Lady Archers, the UAAP’s best offense with a +13 goal difference, played solid defense for the rest of the game marked by excelled offside trapping and wing pressing that frustrated UP’s attacks.
“We took out UP from their game, we took out [Alyssa] Ube and number seven [Aurea Reaso], “Smit continued, explaining that his “converted defenders” from those participating in the UAAP for the first time have stepped up to “understand their role.”
The hard work of the La Sallian backline paid off as the Lady Maroons’s overload on the right wing, anchored on Ube and Reaso’s attacks, went awry, affording only two shots on goal from left wing strike Bethany Talbot, which were saved by goalkeeper Alexandria Gumilao.
“As a team, especially on defense, we made sure that we talk and communicate kung ano yung stance ng kalaban so coming to the finals, we’ll maintain it and we’ll keep the ball away from the goal and protect it all the way,” said team captain and wing-back Anna Delos Reyes, who was assigned on national team reservist Ube.
La Salle had the chance to pad their lead in the second half as top forward Maria Layacan had two shots on goal but her frontal attacks were saved by goalkeeper Frances Acelo.
In the end, the Lady Archers chalked their first win against the Lady Maroons for the season after trailing 1-2 on aggregate in their elimination round meetings.
La Salle are in a better position in their final match-up against FEU as the Lady Tamaraws are yet to win against the Lady Archers, who are at a 4-3 goal advantage on aggregate in their two elimination round games.
“I think that that they are in the same boat that we are in today. I’m sure coach Let [Dimzon] would say to her girls ‘we haven’t beaten DLSU yet, [just like] how I told the girls ‘we haven’t beaten UP yet,’” Smit said regarding the final game, emphasizing that FEU has the advantage of a two-week rest.
The two powerhouses in UAAP women’s football at are loggerheads as the Lady Tamaraws are aiming to tie the Lady Archers as the winningest squad with eleven titles while La Salle are aiming to snag banner number twelve.
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