UAAP: Green Booters, FEU battle to stalemate

The DLSU Green Booters finished with their second draw in three UAAP Season 77 games so far, this time against the defending champion FEU Tamaraws at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field in Ateneo de Manila University earlier today. The game ended with a score of 1-1, thus adding a single point to both teams’ cause.

FEU was the first team to register a goal in the contest after Nicolas Ferrer found the back of the net in the 26th minute via a quick counter-attack.

The Green Booters, however, retaliated in the 31st minute when rookie Cristian Zubiri was fouled by the goalkeeper of the Tamaraws, resulting to a penalty kick. Veteran forward Nathan Alquiros then drained the resulting penalty kick, equalizing the match for the Green-and-White.

In the second half, the Tamaraws looked to capture their second goal as they attacked more frequently, almost scoring with their shots that were barely off-target on multiple occasions. DLSU had open chances of their own but were struggling against FEU’s last line of defense.

Clipping the Falcons’ wings
Last December 4, the Green Booters picked up their first win of the season with a win  against the AdU Soaring Falcons, 3-2. Experience and skill helped the Green Booters as they were able to gain an advantage in possession, shots on goal, and corner kicks.

As early as the second minute, the Green Booters immediately drew first blood courtesy of a goal by fullback Gerald Layumas. Down by one goal, Adamson began trying to pick up the pace and get back from their early setback. It was not until the 25th minute that Adamson’s Gerard Etis scored the equalizer after leading the break of a counter attack of their own.

In spite of the equalizer, the Green Booters kept pressing on the Falcon’s defense by continuously crossing the ball into the box, thus giving the defense more and more problems. After a number of attempts on goal, it only took a corner kick cross and a perfect header by Layumas during the 32nd minute to take back the lead at 2-1, earning him his second goal of the match.

A couple of minutes later, it was DLSU forward Gelo Diamante who got on the scoreboard, extending their lead to 3-1 with 11 minutes left in the half. It was an accurate cross into the center of the box that supplied Diamante with his goal. At the end of the half, the Green Booters had the advantage at 3-1 over the Adamson. They also gained most of the possesion with 53 percent and made the most shots with eight.

Having given up most of the possessions of the ball as well as a good number of corners to the Green Booters, they struggled to regain momentum as they entered the second half. It was during the 57th minute where they got their lucky break as Pusuel Pilarca scores for the Falcons to bring them within striking distance with the Green Booters.

At the end of 90 minutes, the Green Booters were named the victors with a scoreline of 3-2. They ended with a significant advantage in possession with 55% as well as an advantage in shots with 15 to 9. The player that was named the man of the match was Alquiros, who acted as the playmaker of the Green Booters that helped them establish a solid offensive attack against the Falcons.

Looking forward

The next match for the Green Booters will be against the UE Red Warriors on December 14, Sunday, at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field in Ateneo de Manila University.

Note: This post has been edited for factual errors.