After losing several graduating players, the revamped DLSU Lady Booters started their UAAP Season 88 Women’s Football Tournament campaign with a gritty 1-0 win over rivals ADMU Blue Eagles earlier tonight, September 20, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
Elisha Lubiano scored the lone goal for the Green-and-White after a power header from a corner at the 51’ mark to seal the three points.
Rusty start
After a successful preseason stint and three-straight runner-up finishes, the Lady Booters entered the game as favorites against their rivals. La Salle’s high press allowed them to threaten Ateneo’s defense early on. Jodie Banzon crossed the ball to Mari Layacan for a header on two occasions in the first 12 minutes, but Layacan was unable to find the back of the net. The Green-and-White continued to rely on crosses to create chances. Lubiano got on the end of a corner at the 16’ mark, but her header was saved by Chielssy Casals, 0-all.
Against the run of play, the Katipunan-based squad carried the attacking threat in the 22nd minute. However, Lasallian defender Jelena Soon remained composed against Jada Bicciero to give Jessica Pido an easy save. After the mishap, DLSU continued their aggressive play once again as they shifted their focus on creating from through balls.
The Lasallians struggled as Ateneo was able to read their plays and block their build-up. However, the Green-and-White quickly found their confidence and built momentum as they targeted their passing to last year’s best striker Dani Tanjangco. In the 40th minute, Tanjangco enjoyed one-on-one duels with Casals after her teammates delivered clever passes to the middle. However, she was unable to open the scoresheet as Casals blocked her shots to keep the scoreline 0-all. The Green-and-White still had chances to grab the lead in injury time. But, Banzon’s chip over Casals was ruled offside, while Chenny Dañoso and Mikaela Villacin’s shots were unable to cross the line, as DLSU entered the break level with their rivals, 0-all.
Lift off
Coming off a deadlocked first half, La Salle started with high intensity as they searched for the go ahead goal. The Lasallians created multiple opportunities to test the Blue Eagles’ backlines, while also keeping their high pressing setup to trap their opponents in their own half. A major chance fell to Lady Booter Mikaela Villacin, who found herself through on goal, but her effort was deflected out for a corner by Casals. However, the succeeding corner saw a great cross from Banzon which was then met with a thunderous header that flew into the top corner by Lasallian center back Lubiano to make it 1-0 at the 51st minute.
The Ateneans were stunned in the succeeding exchanges as they were unable to create their own attacking momentum whilst continuing to concede chances to the Green-and-White. In an effort to score an equalizer, the ADMU Blue Eagles attempted to play direct long passes behind the La Salle defenders, however the Lady Booters’ backline remained compact, cleaning up all the offensive plays of their counterparts.
La Salle opted to continue their aggressive attacking play in search of their second goal. Their lead was nearly doubled at the 64’ minute mark when Dañoso rattled the crossbar with a well taken volley, but the ball bounced out of bounds to the favor of Ateneo. Now approaching the 70th minute, the game’s state found itself slowing down with both sides of the field showing early season fatigue, prompting the referee to allow for a water break.
Following the interval, it was once again La Salle who took initiative to control the game, however the white shirts then opted to slow the game down to their liking, keeping possession of the ball to run out the clock rather than searching for another goal. Ateneo, seeing time run out, began to send more of their players forward in the hope of finding a goal in the game’s last stages. Yet, the Lasallian defenders responded to this well as they remained resolute, clearing away the attempted attacks of the Blue Eagles. Ateneo finally created a high quality chance in the 90’ mark when goalscorer Lubiano committed a foul that conceded a direct free kick which was taken by Celina Salazar, but the shot flew over La Salle’s goal right before the referee blew the full time whistle, 1-0.
Following this perfect start, the DLSU Lady Booters will aim to keep the winning momentum going as they square off against the UST Golden Tigresses on Wednesday, September 24, at 6:30 pm at the same venue.
