UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas got its breakthrough win in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Tournament by blanking Ateneo de Manila University 3-0 Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Goalkeeper Lizlie Garcia and goalscorers Rica Gerona, Biancy Sy, and Gly Añonuevo combined to snap UST’s five-game losing streak this year and reverse its 2-0 loss to Ateneo in the first round last March 23
Garcia performed a routine stop against Ateneo’s Angely Alferez’s penalty kick to set the tone for the Lady Booters in the first half with the game still scoreless after teammate Jearfelyn Grace Ramos failed to open the scoring for UST by missing her penalty.
Come the second half, Gerona started UST’s goal rush in the 51st minute while Sy converted a penalty in the 68th minute and Añonuevo wrapped up the three points in the 79th minute.
The win ensured that all teams this season have earned at least one victory. The Lady Booters, though, remained bottom of the standings with three points and a minus-8 goal difference after this match.
“Nakaka-miss manalo,” said coach Aging Rubio. “Regardless sa performance namin in the previous games, at least ngayon may result na nakikita. Masaya kami na nanalo and we will continue to work hard para sa upcoming games namin para somehow kaya pa rin namin ipanalo.”
On the other hand, the Blue Eagles are still in fourth place with four points and a minus-20 goal difference. This result meant that Ateneo was officially out of the running for a ticket to the final.
Both teams will return to action this Saturday at the same venue.
Ateneo will face archrival De La Salle University at 4 p.m. while UST will go up against defending champion Far Eastern University at 6:30 p.m.