Still remaining on top, the DLSU Women’s Football Team garnered its fifth win after eking out a 2-1 victory against the UST Lady Booters yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Two goals courtesy of Kyra Dimaandal (9′ and 39′) and UST’s Charisa Lemoran (23′), all in the first half, showed resilience from both teams. However, numerous opportunities were not utilized during the second half as the score remained unchanged from halftime.
Exciting first half
Both teams started off with a 4-4-2 formation, but the Lasallians picked up momentum fast as they earned a corner kick at the first minute. UST’s goalkeeper, Thea Sumaling, was tested early on as DLSU produced a number of good crosses inside the box thus earning another corner at the sixth minute. Both squads exchanged through balls in the next few minutes, but it was Dimaandal who scored the first goal of the match at the 9’ mark. Kyla Inquig threaded a through ball to Dimaandal, who quickly slotted the ball past the goal keeper at the bottom left corner.
Even after scoring the goal, La Salle continued its effort on the offensive end. Irish Navaja led the charge from the right side of the pitch. UST responded by earning free kicks and making DLSU’s goalkeeper, Erika Turtur, work. The Growling Tigresses eventually got an equalizer with Lemoran producing a stunning goal outside the box at the 23rd minute. The goal was built up with Jan Cleofe finding Hazel Lustan, whose shot on target was saved by Turtur, thus earning UST a corner kick. After the corner was taken, the ball landed to Lemoran outside the box and she took her chance brilliantly.
DLSU responded at the 28th minute with Inquig providing Sara Castañeda an opportunity, but it was blocked by a defender. Irish Navaja’s cross earned a corner. A scramble in the UST’s box nine minutes later happened with DLSU missing its chances received. A quick counter-attack for La Salle at the 39th minute paved way for the winning goal. Dimaandal got past the Thomasian defenders and escaped the goalkeeper for an easy tap in. DLSU did not stop from finding another goal with Castañeda firing away, but her shot went over the goal.
Second half opportunities
The second half featured numerous missed opportunities coming from both teams. DLSU started the half with early offense, including a tremendous pass from Dimaandal to Castañeda after fending off three defenders. The latter’s shot was too strong and breezed through the top of the net. UST gave La Salle its first scare at the 54th minute as no defenders were near the net and Turtur fell down, but she managed to make a late save.
Another opportunity presented itself for DLSU with a well-placed cross from Irish Navaja to Dimaandal, but the latter fell to her knees. Nicole Andaya trailed Dimaandal but only hit the side of the net. In added time, a foul by the Thomasians awarded DLSU a free kick. Unfortunately, Castañeda was unable to convert opportunity for a goal at the 90’+2 mark.
“Everyone wasn’t on their playing self, kasi not lahat samin nag perform well. From the defense only three nag work and sa attack three or four players lang nag work,” Navaja stated.
Goalkeeper substitutions from both teams was seen in the second half. At the 53rd minute, Sumaling was replaced by Bea Panganiban and Inna Palacios substituted Turtur at the 85’ mark. Coach Hans Smit of La Salle explained that due to Palacio’s injury, she has not been playing for a month. “The physiotherapist said not to let her play, but I insisted even just for 10 minutes just for her to get her groove back.”
Despite the team’s victory, Smit was still left unsatisfied, “First half, we should have been up by six goals. They were too relaxed,” he said.
