By: Nicole Parallag
Coming off a tough loss to Far Eastern University to end the first round, De La Salle University bounced back in dominant fashion, eliminating the University of the Philippines from finals contention in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament with a commanding 4-2 win to open the second round, Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
Dani Tanjangco, who now has three goals this season, opened the scoring in the 10th minute after being left unmarked inside the box.
UP, however, found an equalizer in the 30th minute by capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Isalyn Tundag narrowly evaded DLSU goalkeeper Jessica Pido — who was poised to collect the ball but slipped — before calmly slotting home UP’s first goal of the season.
The Lady Booters quickly regained control as winger Mari Layacan restored La Salle’s lead in the 33rd minute, breaking the deadlock and sending her team ahead before halftime.
Chenny Danoso extended the cushion in the 55th minute, while Mikaella Villacin converted a well-placed free kick in the 74th to seal the victory for the Lady Booters.
Erisa Rivas pulled one back for the Fighting Maroons in the 77th minute to cut the deficit, but UP’s late push fell short as they suffered their fifth straight defeat.
“It’s more of the emphasis of them listening to the coaches the whole time for the preparation towards the UP game,” said Lady Booters coach Alvin Ocampo.
“The game today was the collective efforts of my coaching staff and my players because they accepted the adjustments we had for the UP game.”
The victory lifted La Salle to 12 points, tying FEU in the standings but remaining behind the Lady Tamaraws due to an inferior goal difference of plus-5.
La Salle will aim to secure an eighth consecutive finals appearance when it faces archrival Ateneo de Manila University at 4 p.m. on October 25 at the same Diliman pitch.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, UP stays at the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -10.
Though officially out of the title race — with a maximum possible tally of only nine points — the Fighting Maroons remain in contention for a bronze finish as they seek their first win against Ateneo on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
