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UAAP: DLSU Women’s Football Team continues its mastery over ADMU, wins 1-0

For the second time in seven days, the DLSU Women’s Football Team was able to bag a 1-0 victory against archrivals ADMU Lady Eagles. Kyra Dimaandal silenced the lively ADMU crowd at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium earlier with a goal at the 59’ minute mark of the match.

It was Dimaandal’s first goal this season, but the reigning UAAP Best Striker stated that she only focuses on the team performance and not on her scoring drought. “As I said last year, I’m not the type of striker who works by herself. I work by the dynamics of the team and I just finish off what my teammates worked hard for.”

With only five teams competing in the women’s division, finishing in the top two at the end of elimination round is vital because the reward will be an outright berth in the final. It was a huge win for the Green-and-White as it solidified its hold on the top spot while officially ending the title hopes of the Lady Eagles and the UP Lady Maroons, respectively, leaving only three teams in the hunt for the championship.

 

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Injury bug

DLSU opened the second round of eliminations with three players carrying an injury. Cristine Duran remained sidelined, Shannon Arthur missed her second consecutive game, and Nina Arrieta sat out after tearing her ACL last week.

It was an unusual line-up for the Green-and-White as Chelo Hodges and Kyla Inquig played at the heart of the defense while Irish Navaja was put in the middle of the pitch alongside Bea Delos Reyes. Janna Barcemo started at left midfield while Nicole Andaya played in the right side of the midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.

“They adjusted well to their position. We told them to accept your roles now in the field regardless kung saan kayo palaruin, accept your roles,” assistant coach Alvin Ocampo shared after the game when asked about the partnership of Hodges and Inquig at the backline.

 

Missed chances

Inquig took a free kick at the 13’ mark of the match but her effort just went over the bar for a goal kick. Seven minutes later, Navaja’s free kick at the right side of the penalty box yielded the same result, keeping the match scoreless.

The Lasallians continued to push for the first goal as they dominated the possession in the latter stages of the first half. Arantxa Del Mundo attempted a shot inside the box in the 33rd minute but it was blocked by an Atenean, resulting to a corner kick. After five minutes, it was Andaya’s turn to have an attempt at the goal but her shot completely missed the target and went out for a goal kick. The Green-and-White would have several more chances to shatter the deadlock, but the Katipunan-based squad held on to keep it at 0-0.

 

Breaking through

A free kick by Inquig in the 49th minute was La Salle’s first chance of the second half but the attempt was easily caught by the ADMU goalkeeper. Andaya continued playing solid football as she generated a through ball intended for Dimaandal but the striker was outpowered by an Atenean who cleared the ball away from the goal.

The deadlock was finally broken at the 59’ mark of the game as Dimaandal showed fantastic composure with the ball. The striker took advantage of the backline’s mistake and split two defenders to create a one-on-one situation versus the goalkeeper. Dimaandal then flicked the ball past Moira Lim and scored her first goal of the season.

La Salle had three more chances to finish the game but Andaya and Mariell Tejada failed to capitalize on the chances that came their way. The latter hit the bar with a header while the former rattled the right post after a powerful shot from close range.

The Lady Eagles threatened to equalize in the last ten minutes of the game as the Lasallians showed fatigue but the defending champions held on to secure their fourth win in five games, with their only loss coming off against the UST Golden Tigresses on Valentine’s Day.

La Salle will be given the opportunity to make up for the first round loss against the Golden Tigresses on March 10, 3 pm, at the same venue.

Juro Morilla

By Juro Morilla

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