Green Booters’ third loss lengthens inconsistent spell

The Green-and-White XI absorbed another heartbreaking, 1-0, loss against the UP Fighting Maroons under bipolar weather conditions at Ateneo’s Erenchun Field earlier today.

Despite losing the game, the Green Booters dictated the pace of the game. The La Salle attacking quintet of Nathan Alquiros, Gelo Diamante, Gio Diamante, Jojo Borromeo and Carl Amisola bombarded UP with a series of dangerous pursuits. Nonetheless, the defending champion’s defense, under the stewardship of center back Deo Segunial held firm throughout the match.

The most threatening of those chances came in the 43rd minute when Alquiros outmuscled three UP defenders before taking a shot that was parried by UP’s Tyrone Caballes.

Another opportunity arrived in the 62nd minute. Don Rabaya’s headed shot from the right wing was wide. Five minutes after, UP capitalized on the counter-attack. Forward Jinggoy Valmayor’s cross from the right flank tapped into the goal by Michael Simms.

DLSU Head Coach Hans Peter Smit believed that a switch in the right side of defense cost him defeat. Needing to take off a crocked Jhoguev Ybañez, Smit sent rookie Defender Jose Montelibano into the game. Simms came untracked from the left side of UP’s attack as the rampaging UP defender outpaced Montelibano.

Unsurprisingly, the Green Booters went all-out on the offensive end. Rabaya came closest to an equalizer in the 82nd minute, but his attempt entered the wrong side of the post.

At the end of the game, Patrick Deyto expressed his disappointment for yet another dominant performance that resulted in defeat. “We wasted a lot of chances. I think the game was ours. It’s very unlucky not to get anything out of this game,” said DLSU’s starting goalkeeper and captain.

Smit also voiced his frustration with the team’s inconsistent play throughout the tournament. The Green Booters opened the season with a, 0-3, loss to FEU, which was followed by a 4-0 statement win against NU. In the team’s succeeding match, the team suffered a, 0-1, setback against Ateneo before responding brilliantly from a losing position to win against UST, 3-1.

The result of this game means that the Green Booters will occupy fourth spot, with UP leapfrogging La Salle to place third behind FEU and runaway leader Ateneo, which won four straight games.

The Green Booters will play the team’s last game of the first round this coming Tuesday at Ateneo’s Ocampo Field against UE.

Men’s Football Standings (after five game days)