UAAP Women's Football: FEU book Finals berth at UP's expense; UST stay alive

PHOTO CREDITS: UAAP

The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws clinched a Finals spot and top seed with a 1-0 win over the UP Fighting Maroons, while the UST Lady Golden Booters defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles 3-1 in the UAAP Season 85 Women's Football Tournament, at the UP Diliman Football Field this Saturday.

In the first match, the Lady Tams looked to control from the get-go, exploiting gaps in the UP defense. But the Fighting Maroons offered some pushback, notably with Alyssa Ube pressing and making runs down the left flank.

But while the home side looked to hold on at the end of the half, Regine Rebosura's tap-in after 44 minutes saw FEU grab the lead entering the break.

The Lady Tamaraw Booters had perhaps their best chance to extend their lead in the 49th minute, with a Dionesa Tolentin header from inside the 18-yard box saved by UP keeper Coline Acelo.

The Fighting Maroons had chances to equalize in the second half. In the 68th minute, an FEU foul near the penalty area was adjudged as a free kick instead of a penalty, to the dismay of the home fans. Substitute Bethany Talbot's shot in the 86th minute from just outside the box went inches away from the top corner.

PHOTO CREDITS: UAAP

For the second match, it was the team from España who wasted no time, with forward Nathalie Absalon finding space and scoring in the 4th minute.

The Blue Eagles, playing their last match for this season, looked to pile on the pressure. Their efforts were repaid when Traci Lim equalized in the 36th minute.

Both sides exchanged chances late in the half, but at the half-time whistle, it was 1-1, with Ateneo poised to earn their first points of the tournament.

But it was not meant to be. Lovely Fernandez gave UST the lead with a goal in the 59th minute and scored another in the 86th to ice the match, 3-1.

With the result, the ADMU Blue Eagles end the tournament fifth in the five-team field, with 0 points and a -19 goal difference.

After the day's matches, DLSU, UP, and UST are set for a crucial final matchday to determine who will face FEU in the final.

The UP Fighting Maroons sits third (11 points, +2 GD) and will face the UST Lady Golden Booters (10 points, -8 GD). Meanwhile, the FEU Lady Tamaraw Booters secured the top spot (18 points, +12 GD) and close out the elims against current second-seed DLSU Lady Booters (13 points, +13 GD). Both matches will be played on May 6th, at the UP Diliman Football Field.