A moment of brilliance from substitute Princess Amilhamja salvaged a point for University of Santo Tomas, as her stunning chip helped her side hold De La Salle University to a 1-1 draw to open the second round of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
With UST searching for a spark after managing just one win in the first round, head coach Marjo Allado turned to the rookie midfielder. And the decision paid off, as Amilhamja delivered the equalizer to secure UST’s first point of the second round.
Amilhamja made a perfectly timed run to meet captain Rica Gerona’s pass before delicately chipping the ball over La Salle goalkeeper Jessica Pido in the 67th minute.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“At least the substitutes gave off energy and that goal nung second half,” said Allado, now in his fourth year as head coach.
“Yun din ang na-notice ko: ‘yung girls are trying their best to score. We lack scoring talaga, like, we dominated the game nung first round, but we lack the finishing. Pero continue lang. Like today, after that one goal, hindi sila affected and nakuha kami ng isang maganda,” he continued.
Amilhamja’s moment of magic came just nine minutes after La Salle broke the deadlock through Meagan Alforque.
Alforque, a midfielder De La Salle Santiago Zobel, was brought down inside the box while dribbling, earning a penalty that she converted a minute later to put her side ahead.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Despite surrendering the lead, La Salle remained in second place with 13 points and a plus-six goal difference. UST, meanwhile, moved closer to the top four with four points and a goal difference of zero.
La Salle head coach Joyce Landagan acknowledged the challenges her team faced heading into the second round, particularly after a last-minute defeat to Far Eastern University and the demands of the schedule.
“Into the second round, I think medyo challenging sa’min ‘yung last-minute loss namin against FEU, and with the schedule siguro it’s hard for the girls to recover. But we cannot use that as an excuse; kailangan naming ma-turn ‘yun, kung may lapses man kami,” said the first-year mentor.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, October 17, with UST facing FEU at 4:30 PM, before La Salle takes on Ateneo de Manila University at 7:00 PM.
