Race to Finals seat no. 2 heats up as UP WFT hands crucial win to FEU

Instead of boosting their hopes for a Finals appearance at the UAAP Season 85 women’s football tournament, the UP Fighting Maroons yielded to league-leading FEU Lady Tamaraw Booters, 1-0, last April 29 at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.

With defending champions La Salle at solo second, the loss put third-seeded UP in a precarious position as FEU secured the first Finals berth of the season.

Crucial loss

Despite a strong defense that featured keeper Frances Acelo’s valiant saves, State U struggled to barge into FEU’s side and ended the match with nothing converted.

UP tried to atone for their sluggish start by attempting to get the offensive upper hand with Yoojin Kim’s 14th and 20th-minute free kicks—all to be denied by FEU goalie Khryss Dacanay.

FEU flaunted persistence in making corners and crosses in UP’s box, but the maroons responded with consistency in staving all off thanks to Acelo’s blocks.

But even Acelo’s heroics could not deny Regine Rebrosura’s 44th-minute strike, which gave FEU the advantage en route to the half, 1-0.

Notable in that sequence, however, was Alyssa Ube’s 35th-minute dribbling through the left flank and crossing the ball to FEU’s box, though UP missed in converting after a split-second late response by Kamea Mangrobang.

Up to the 60th-minute mark, the Lady Tamaraws dominated both in possession and chances created.

State U got a fighting chance in the 85th minute with Aurea Reaso’s beautiful pass to the left to Bethany Talbot, but the shot went a few inches aboveboard. 

During the stoppage time, the maroons sought a late-game charge featuring Jennifer Baroin’s long throws to pressure the FEU backline, an Acelo save, and Talbot’s corner kick.

But all their efforts ultimately proved futile. 

With the loss, UP now stands third with 11 points from three wins, two draws, and two losses. Finals-bound FEU has 18 points tailed by La Salle’s 13.

The maroons look to win an all-important matchup against the UST Lady Golden Booters on Saturday, May 6, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.