The University of Santo Tomas Lady Booters secured a precious 1-0 victory against defending champions University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 79 Women’s Football Tournament action.
Hazel Lustan (85′) provided the game’s solitary goal today in the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, as the Lady Maroons fired blanks all day.
“Masaya kasi alam ko namang meron kaming pwedeng magawa para mai-angat ang team. Nakabawi naman kami kahit papano,” commented UST mentor Prescila Rubio.
UST dominated the first half to no avail. The Lady Maroons were pegged back due to the Lady Booters’ pressing, and the former failed to threaten UST goalie Ivy Lopez, who had an easy time in the said period.
Charisa Lemoran and her striker partner Hazel Lustan constantly picked holes in the Lady Maroons defense, and the latter could have had a goal early in the game when her shot slowly entered the UP net only for it to be cleared by Cassandra Alleje.
In contrast to Lopez, UP goalie Nicole Adlawan had a turbulent time in goal. Lemoran tried her luck twice and should have scored if not for Adlawan’s steady goalkeeping. It finished goalless at the break, which definitely frustrated the España school.
A similar story unfolded in the second half for UST, although the Lady Booters finally got the goal they deserved. UST continued to bombard State U and were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute due to a foul in the latter’s box. Lemoran stepped up but missed badly.
That was the respite State U needed to shift the momentum to their side, yet the Lady Maroons failed to capitalize. One UP attack was well defended by UST, who then executed a counterattack perfectly towards Lustan, who found space to shoot and converted in the 85th minute to give UST the lead.
It finished UST 1-0 UP, and the Lady Booters secured their second victory to send the Lady Maroons into a crisis.
UST (2-0-1) shall face Ateneo de Manila University on March 11, 5:00 PM at Rizal Memorial. On the other hand, there is still no word as to who State U (0-1-3) shall face in the second round.
“The same pa rin preparation namin. Kailangan lang namin ayusin talaga yung sarili namin kasi natatalo kami sa personal na problema namin, hindi na yung kulang sa technique o technically may problema. Ang problema namin ngayon is yung sarili namin na minsan maraming doubts or hesitations kaya kami nagiging off minsan,” concluded Rubio.
UST XI: Cadag, Cleofe, Cuaresma, Eusebio, Ilan, Indac, Lemoran, Lopez, Lustan, Reyes, Sumilang
UP XI: Adlawan, Agustin, Alleje, Delos Reyes, Mendoza, Navea-Huff, Ruiz, Sebastian, Sta. Clara, Ube, Yalong
