By Ivan Saldajeno
TAGUIG--Just when Ateneo thought the team averted a comeback by La Salle, Sara Castañeda struck a heart-breaker in their game's dying moments.
Castañeda scored the game-winning goal with barely 30 seconds left in the match as La Salle drubbed Ateneo, 4-3, in a fitting start to the UAAP women's football season at the McKinley Hill Stadium on Sunday night.
Castañeda's goal completed La Salle's comeback from 1-2 down at halftime to steal all the three points from Ateneo.
Kyla Inquig actually put La Salle up at the start of the match with a 20th minute score, but Kathleen Rodriguez and Bea Velasco converted for Ateneo in the 29th and 38th minutes respectively to hand their team the lead.
Ateneo, however, started the second half with a blunder as Isabella Sabio accidentally sent the ball to her own goal while trying to clear it out in the 51st minute, forcing the 2-all deadlock.
Shannon Arthur then gave La Salle the lead in the 66th minute, and the team appeared to hold on to the lead later in the half.
But Rodriguez found the left side of the goal from the left wing in the 80th minute to again tie the game, 3-all.
The match appeared to be heading to the draw as no team had a decent attempt in the final stages of regulation and the first two-and-a-half minutes of added time, but Arthur crossed the ball to Castañeda, who got past a crowded box and scored the game-winner in.
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