By Vince Matthew Jaramilla

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw Booters head coach Let Dimzon highlighted their need for a more composed disposition after stealing a close 1-0 victory against fellow finals qualifier De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Booters in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s football tourney earlier today, November 30, at the University of the Philippines Diliman Football Pitch in Quezon City.

“Pinaka-importante ‘yung mental [toughness], eh, so I think kailangan namin [ng] psychological session… Kailangan nila maging mentally strong pagdating sa ganitong situations (Mental toughness is the most important so I think we need a psychological session… They need to become mentally strong for this kind of situations), especially they know the capability of La Salle players and the team,” she said in a post-game interview with FEU Advocate.

Both squads showed their champion-caliber play since the kickoff, resulting in a back-and-forth exchange on the turf.

In the 15th minute, FEU produced their earliest glance in the DLSU goal area, but keeper Jessica Pido managed to save it. The same result was seen in the next minute despite another strike.

The Taft squad sought a getback on the other end just a minute after, but Morayta-based goalie Jessa Lehayan also remained prepared.

When the 30th minute came, a corner kick play by the green-and-gold booters turned into a scramble within the green-and-white penalty area. However, all their attempts could not penetrate.

Just like earlier, DLSU went on the counterattack, finding a one-versus-one against Lehayan at the 33-minute mark. Fortunately, the keeper was unfazed.

The Lady Archers turned out to be more aggressive for the half’s remainder, but the Lady Tam defenders clogged the penalty area to keep the deadlock at the break.

To start the second half, the Morayta-based booters came out with more intensity, rallying an immediate shot on target in the 46th minute.

While FEU struggled to score, their relentless attempts put DLSU’s defense in disarray. As a result, a supposed block by green-and-white defender Chenny Dañoso at the 57-minute mark found its way inside their own goal, 1-0.

However, the Lady Tam Booters almost gave up a game-tying moment in the next minute as miscomms left their goal vulnerable. Fortunately, defender Lyka Cuenco snapped them out of the confusion, snuffing the stray ball out in place of Lehayan.

With the lead in hand, goalie Lehayan, Cuenco, and the rest of the Morayta defenders protected both their goal and lead despite facing even more pushes from the green-and-white booters.

FEU tried to put the cherry on top in the extension with final pushes, but the score stayed 1-0.

Despite the win, Dimzon also mentioned how the green-and-gold squad gets tense when facing DLSU, causing them to play out of their system.

“This game is not [a] good game. I think nape-pressure sila especially [because] they’re thinking about playing against La Salle for the finals. Ayun ‘yung nagiging problem namin, they cannot handle the pressure. Also, hindi ko nakita ngayon ‘yung system namin (That becomes our problem. They cannot handle the pressure. Also, I did not see our system during this game),” she shared.

The FEU tactician also did not forget to cite their execution on both ends of the field as things to improve.

“Regarding sa attacking, I know na kaya namin but again, ‘yung small details lang, ‘yun ‘yung tinututukan namin every training (Regarding attacking, I know that we can do it but we focus on the small details every training)... Another thing is with the defense. We need to be focused on defending,” Dimzon remarked.

The Morayta-based squad will try to round out their 6-1-0 win-draw-loss record in their final elimination game contra Ateneo de Manila University next Saturday, December 7, at the same venue.

(Photo courtesy of the UAAP Media Team)