The DLSU Lady Booters sustained their blazing start to the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Football Tournament after earning a 2-0 win over the UP Fighting Maroons to extend their win streak to three earlier tonight, September 27, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
Dani Tanjangco netted her second goal of the season with a stoppage-time strike in the first half, and her aggressive charge in the second half became the catalyst that forced a UP own goal to cement their win.
Tanjangco takes charge
Flying high with confidence following two consecutive wins, La Salle started on the front foot by pushing UP back into their own half. Possessions from DLSU tested the Fighting Maroons’ defensive solidity early on, but the Diliman-based squad remained resolute for the opening 15 minutes. An opening was finally created when Maegan Alforque took a shot on goal, but it was easily saved by UP goalkeeper Mariel Sancho.
Still determined to get the go-ahead goal, the Lady Booters played Tanjangco through on goal, but she was fouled right outside the penalty box. Despite the calls for a red card, no such punishment was given, and the succeeding free kick taken by DLSU would be unsuccessful. Nevertheless, La Salle remained relentless in their offensive efforts.
At the 34’ mark, another big chance was created for the green shirts when Tanjangco was once again through on goal, but yet again Sancho would expertly claim the ball. UP’s backline, while compact, was very deep in their own half, and this limited their attacking players, causing them to be isolated against the DLSU defenders.
With the halftime whistle fast approaching, La Salle stepped up a gear to try and snatch the lead. Once again, it was through Tanjangco that the offensive efforts of the Lasallians were embodied. At the 45+2’ mark, she was once again one-on-one with Sancho, striking a precise left-footed shot toward the bottom right corner to finally put La Salle up by one, 1-0, right before the halftime whistle.
Ball control
Having kept Sancho busy with several first-half attempts, the Lady Booters entered the second half more energized with their slim lead. With the advantage on their side, they looked to hold firm until the final whistle. In a bid to swing the momentum, the Fighting Maroons turned to a quadruple substitution, eager to find a way past La Salle’s defense. The chance nearly paid off at the 49th minute after a close call to the net, but Elisha Lubiano stood firm to deny the equalizer, 1-nil.
DLSU nearly doubled their advantage in the 57th minute after a gorgeous through ball from Mikaela Villacin found Maria Layacan, but while Tanjangco pounced on the loose ball, UP’s desperate goal-line defending kept it away from the net. The moment finally came three minutes later after Tanjangco’s surging run put pressure on the UP backline, forcing defender Calope into a misclearance that ended up in the back of their own net to give the Green-and-White a 2-0 edge. La Salle held possession of the ball for the next 15 minutes in an attempt to keep the Diliman squad scoreless.
At the 75th minute, UP’s second-half substitute Jazinda Borra impressed the field with a solo run from midfield toward goal, hungry to give the team a consolation goal, but Lubiano once again flaunted her reliable defense with a timely intervention. The Lady Booters kept Sancho on her toes until the final whistle, testing her with multiple late attempts on the goal before ultimately sealing the match with a 2-0 victory.
As match favorites, the DLSU Lady Booters dictated the pace of the match and exerted pressure on the UP Fighting Maroons, recording an overwhelming number of shots while limiting their opponents’ opportunities.
Riding their perfect run, the DLSU Lady Booters look forward to keeping their hot streak alive as they face the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, October 4, at 6:30 pm at the same venue.
