By: Niklas Arriola
Marienell Cristobal’s brace ensured that the last ticket to the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Football Tournament Final remains up for grabs, as championship-bound Far Eastern University escaped De La Salle University, 2-1, on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
Cristobal, who is on her fourth playing year, put FEU ahead just seven minutes into the match and doubled the lead with a long-range strike from outside the box in the 28th minute.
The FEU-Diliman alumna’s heroics kept the door open for third-placed Ateneo de Manila University — which has 11 points — to make a historic finals appearance, as second-placed La Salle sits only a point ahead with 12.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I told her that she needs to score today,” said coach Let Dimzon. “That’s why when she scored, she went to me and we hugged because that was my challenge for her.”
The Lady Tamaraws sought to complete Cristobal’s hat trick in the 54th and 75th minutes, but Lady Booters goalkeeper Jessica Pido denied both attempts.
FEU remains perfect at the top of the table with 21 points and a +17 goal difference.
“The players have performed well in terms of defending and attacking, but in the last minutes, there were lapses. So I think the mental [awareness], we also need to improve,” Dimzon added.
Chasing a win to secure their spot in the November 15 Final, the Lady Booters produced several chances but failed to find the back of the net.
La Salle skipper Maria Layacan nearly equalized in the 24th minute with a point-blank attempt that was blocked by FEU goalkeeper Jessa Lehayan.
In the 69th minute, Dani Tanjanco’s challenge inside the box was once again denied by Lehayan, while Jodie Banzon’s 79th-minute free kick from outside the area went wide of the left post.
Stephanie Goñe pulled one back for La Salle in the 90th minute after finishing off a rebound from Mikaela Villacin’s initial shot, but it came too late as FEU’s defense held firm until the final whistle.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With the victory, FEU completed a season sweep over La Salle, having also taken a 2-1 win in their first-round encounter last October 9.
Both squads return to the same pitch this Saturday — FEU faces Ateneo at 4:00 p.m., while La Salle closes the double-header against University of Santo Tomas at 6:30 p.m.
