The DLSU Green Booters were met with a stunning draw in their return to the field for the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Football Tournament as they battled the UE Red Warriors earlier today, September 19, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
UE’s Mark Maghinay scored the opening goal at the 45+4’ mark to stun the Green Booters late in the half. However, Gabe Suarez answered with a stunning free kick from outside the box at the 81’ mark to equalize the game.
Holding the line
The Green Booters entered the battlefield with their heads held high, immediately compelled to shift their dominant defense to grapple possession as the Red Warriors came off strong with an all-offensive attack to the Green-and-White. After the tussle for control, the Red Warriors were able to suspend La Salle’s chance of their first goal by strengthening their defense to block Shaun Tong’s free kick at the minute mark.
The Taft-based squad ensured their defensive and offensive formations were unshaken, especially for Team Captain Enrico Mangaoang, who protected the Green Booters from any of the Red Warriors’ shots away from the goal. Eventually, the Taft-based team took advantage of any goals and throw-ins for any breakthroughs toward UE’s defense.
Around the 30-minute mark, Aguilar’s well-weighted kick found its way inside UE’s box, in the efforts of breaking the stalemate. Unfortunately, the ball landed further and outside the field, quaking the Green-and-White’s composition once more. Alongside the grapple for dominance, DLSU’s further attempts to score were unsuccessful as the Aguilar-Enrico-Vecin combination who managed to cross into the Red Warriors’ box was immediately denied by a hard block from UE’s goalkeeper.
In the recurring moments of the game, the Green Booters continued to play along the defensive, keeping track of UE’s offensive approaches and goal kicks–with Frank Labayen managing to seize control over ball possession from time to time. The teams kept a good formation of exchanging control until the 45th minute, where UE managed to land the first score of the match, 1-0, leaving the Green Booters scoreless at halftime.
Heart-stopping ending
After conceding a goal late in the first half, the Green Booters immediately looked for an equalizer. The Green-and-White looked to impose themselves on the Red Warriors as they constantly pressed the UE backline. With added possession, La Salle looked to threaten the opposition from the left wing as their search for an equalizer continued.
The white shirts got better glimpses of the goal after their aggressive play raised eyebrows on the UE defense line. Adrian Bacolod’s shot at the 48’ mark got blocked to give a corner for the Green Booters, leading to a series of chances for La Salle. The increased chances for the DLSU opened up a chance for senior Suarez but was immediately surrounded by red shirts.
The Green Booters found trouble building on their chances as the Red Warriors found an opening to extend their lead at the 72’ mark, but Mangaoang saved the shot to keep the scoreline, 1-0. Immediately after, a free kick was awarded to the Green Booters from long range. Suarez launched it into the box for Frank Labayen, but it could not find the back of the net.
At this point, it looked like the game was to be lost for the Green Booters. However, Suarez built on his consistent efforts and banged in a long-range free kick in the 81st minute to tie the game, 1-all. Despite the added boost of confidence, the Green-and-White could not add another goal to the scoreline as they dealt with the change in pace of the game. The game ended with both sides heated as the final whistle signaled a draw, 1-all.
After this draw, the Green Booters look to climb the standings of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Football Tournament. They will be looking to improve on their campaign as they take on their bitter rivals, ADMU Blue Eagles, in their rescheduled match on October 3, Thursday, at 7 pm at the same venue.
