UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas survived another day by sweeping La Salle, 2-0, Thursday that forced a rubber match in 72nd UAAP women’s football final at the Erenchun Field in Ateneo de Manila, Quezon City.
Last year's top rookie Marianne Narciso scored early in the game when she booted a goal in the three-minute mark of the first half.
The Tigresses also took advantage on the absence of the Lady Archers’ star goalkeeper Hyacinth Ibarra who suffered an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury after the double round eliminations.
The Ateneo football field will play witness to the rubber match of the 72nd UAAP football finals on Sunday. (Sunnex/Virgil Lopez)
The Lady Archers earned the twice-to-beat advantage after topping the elimination round. UST clinched the second finals berth last Sunday when it forced a scoreless draw with Far Eastern University.
La Salle tried to tie the game several times but the efforts were doomed as the sophomore striker sealed the España-based booters’ victory with another hit off Ampil’s outstretched arms in the 81st minute.
“Our team has the heart to win. The fact that their starting goal keeper didn’t play also affected their game,” said UST coach Rozano Estraban.
Host Ateneo De Manila meanwhile inched closer in bagging the junior’s title after defeating FEU, 4-3, in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series.
In the men's contest, the FEU Tamaraws relied on Jason Cordova’s lone goal to fashion a 1-0 win over the UST Tigers.
Cordova scored in the 22nd minute after receiving a long pass from Noel Espinosa a lead that they protected up to the final whistle.
Tams coach Rodolfo Alicante said stingy defense was the key in their victory.
“We knew that they (UST) are strong in long balls and crosses so we tried to prevent them from doing it,” said Alicante.
The Tigers had an immaculate card going into this match after dominating the tournament with eight wins and two draws for a league-best 26 points.
But the Tamaraws reversed their rivals' fortune to force a decider on Sunday.
The first billing will have UST and DLSU go for the jugular in the women’s division at 9 a.m. The FEU-UST match in the men’s division will be played at 2 pm. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)