Reporting note: this article draws on tiebreakertimes.com.ph; Score808 Live provides the summary and editorial framing.
University of the Philippines beat De La Salle University 1-0 in UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women's Football on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, a result that moved the Fighting Maroons into third place and left La Salle carrying a Dani Tanjangco injury into the last elimination-round fixture. Hannah Muros scored the only goal in the 33rd minute. La Salle remained second on 19 points. UP held third on 15.
Dani Tanjangco Injury Removes a La Salle Forward
La Salle lost forward Dani Tanjangco to an injury substitution after falling behind. The report does not state the nature of the injury or how long she will be unavailable. La Salle kept pushing forward with one fewer attacking option.
Two chances followed the substitution. Maegan Alforque fired wide from an open look. Ushin Valencia struck a long-range free kick that came off the crossbar.
Hannah Muros Converts the Rebound
Muros, a fourth-year midfielder from Holistic Education & Development Center in Antipolo, produced the decisive goal. La Salle goalkeeper Jessica Pido saved her first attempt. Muros finished the rebound.
- 33rd minute: Pido denies Muros from inside the box.
- Same phase: Muros converts the rebound for 1-0.
- After the goal: Tanjangco leaves with an injury.
- Alforque shoots wide from an open position.
- Valencia free kick from distance hits the crossbar.
Anto Gonzales Reviews the First 20 Minutes
UP coach Anto Gonzales said the result served a specific purpose before the Final Four. "Result-wise, we got the job done because we wanted to secure the number three position so we can manage the match against UST already," he said.
He was direct about the opening phase. "But overall play in the first half was not really good, especially in the first 20 minutes. We were a step slower than La Salle. La Salle was on the front foot. We were lucky not to concede in the first 20 minutes. We had a number of players who didn't put in the necessary effort. Fortunately, after the goal, the effort improved, and the second half was really just a matter of staying in there and managing the game."
On the UST fixture, Gonzales said rotation is the plan. "Our goal really was to get the win today so that against UST we can rest players, especially going into the semis or the stepladder. We will be competitive; we'll give a chance to other players, but still, the demand is the same. But yeah, we will definitely manage the game against UST."
UP and La Salle Close the Elimination Round on Wednesday
UP faces Final Four-chasing University of Santo Tomas at 2 p.m. La Salle meets Far Eastern University at 7 p.m. A Lady Tamaraws win would secure their place in the final for a sixth consecutive season.
The win avenged UP's 1-0 first-round loss to La Salle on September 23. It was also the Fighting Maroons' first victory over the Lady Booters since a 1-0 result on December 8, 2024, in Season 87.
The original report was published by tiebreakertimes.com.ph.
