The DLSU Men’s Football Team fell to the UP Maroons, 2-1, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last April 2. Jeremiah Borlongan scored the first goal of the game at the 16th minute off a deflection, while King Miyagi at the 62’ mark provided the second. Meanwhile, after being awarded a penalty kick at the 22nd minute, Paeng Siggaoat gave DLSU its lone goal of the match.
First half
La Salle came in strong as two goal attempts were made within the first four minutes. It was only at the the 11’ mark that the Fighting Maroons challenged the defense of the Lasallians with an on-target shot to be denied by La Salle goalkeeper Kerbi Almonte. Although, DLSU controlled the ball since kickoff, Borlongan opened the scoring at the 16′ mark.
Despite being a goal behind, the Green-and-White continued to challenge the defending champions. A cross from Jed Diamante to Siggaoat inside the box was La Salle’s chance to get an equalizer. Fortunately for DLSU, a UP foul inside the box paved way to a penalty kick. With only Fighting Maroon goalkeeper Ace Villanueva against him, Siggaoat was able to tie the match at 1-all at the 22’ mark.
Several opportunities presented itself for both teams, but were not utilized. It was just five minutes before halftime that the Fighting Maroons started to gain control of the ball. At the 41st minute, UP was closing in the net seeing that the box was empty. Noel Brago was able to catch up and neatly tackled the ball away. A minute before the halftime whistle, a cross from Nace Gonzales, which Marcus Garcia tried to slot with a header, was deflected.
Secondlf half
The Green-and-White started the second half aggressively right from the opening whistle, with Gonzales giving a beautiful cross which was fumbled by a fellow Lasallian.
The Fighting Maroons would eventually match DLSU’s intensity, finding themselves inside the box on numerous occasions. A yellow card was given to Miyagi at the 60th minute after an altercation with the referee, but he would more than make up for it with his goal moments later to give UP a 2-1 lead.
In an attempt to salvage the game, head coach Hans Smit made a series of substitutions, bringing in five players. La Salle came close to scoring at the 78th minute off a spectacular shot by Jhoguev Ybanez from the midfield, only for him to hit the woodwork.
La Salle’s rally came too late, as it fell to four wins, three draws, and five losses, and remains in sixth place.
After the game, head coach Hans Smit was visibly distraught by the result. He noted the lack of commitment by some of his players, saying, “You cannot play with our backs against the wall, [while giving] their 50 percent only.”
The Green-and-White will aim to bounce back versus the league-leading ADMU Blue Eagles on Sunday, April 9, at 5 pm in the same venue.
