UP, DLSU live to fight another day for right to play FEU in UAAP final

The UP Fighting Maroons and the DLSU Lady Booters will play in a one-off to decide who faces the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the final of the UAAP Season 85 Women's Football Tournament. This comes after UP's 2-0 win over UST and a 1-1 draw between DLSU and FEU at the UP Diliman Football Field this Saturday.

PHOTO CREDITS: UAAP

The UP Fighting Maroons and the UST Lady Golden Booters both went into their matchup needing a win to have a chance at qualifying for the Finals against #1-seed FEU.

But the match went beyond just football. The home side wore black armbands to honor the recent passing of Mali native Yoro Sangare of the UP men's football team.

Both sides looked to start fast, exchanging chances and trying to control the flanks.

The breakthrough for UP came from Kim Yoojin in the 27th minute, finishing from close range. Khryztel Anne Muring doubled the Fighting Maroons' lead after 55 minutes, from point blank range off a deflected corner.

UP then tightened up their lines to preserve their lead. The Golden Booters had several chances to pull one back with Lovely Fernandez and Nathalie Absalon, and UP keeper Coline Acelo had to work for the clean sheet until the final whistle, with the match ending 2-0 to UP.

PHOTO CREDITS: UAAP

With UP having won their assignment, the onus was on DLSU to try and beat already-qualified FEU for a Finals berth.

The match started as a cagey, physical affair, with a series of fouls from both sides disrupting the flow of the match.

Maria Lourdes Layacan opened the scoring for the Green Booters from a tight angle just outside the 6 yard box in the 45th minute.

But the response from the Lady Tamaraw Booters came almost instantly, with Dionesa Tolentin putting in a long-range effort, going over the La Salle keeper Alexandrea Gumilao and in the back of the net, just before half-time.

The team from Taft started the second half stronger, in an attempt to chase the win and an outright finals berth. However, they were unable to capitalize on their chances, with Samantha Toledo just missing early on, and goalscorer Layacan almost bagging a brace off a one-on-one.

With these results, the DLSU Green Booters and the UP Fighting Maroons are level on 14 points apiece, behind only the FEU Lady Tamaraw Booters who are on 19.

As only one of DLSU and UP can advance to the postseason, ties of this nature can only be broken by a playoff, with goal difference and winner-over-the-other not applicable, according to UAAP rules.

The playoff match between DLSU and UP to decide FEU's opponent in the Finals will be played on May 13 at the UP Diliman Football Field.