UAAP: DLSU Men’s Football Team cruises past UST, 4-0, ends elimination round in second

The DLSU Men’s Football team crushed the UST Growling Tigers, 4-0, earlier today at the Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU). Gelo Diamante led the way for La Salle with a brace as Jhoguev Ybañez and substitute Yoshi Koizumi came away with goals of their own.

“This is a good confidence booster going into the semifinals,” said Coach Hans Smit. “The important thing I said [to the team] is to safeguard our place in the top four regardless of what position.”

Composed first half

The opening minutes saw UST dictating the tempo of the game, but La Salle was able to keep its composure on the counterattack. After missing the previous game against Adamson, team captain Gelo Diamante made a resounding return to the lineup by scoring two goals in the first half.

Diamante found the back of the net in the 24^th minute with a left-footed strike off a wide pass from Gerald Layumas which went to the far left side of the goal, leaving UST goalkeeper Jose Abraham flat footed and unable to make a save.

Fourteen minutes later, Diamante doubled the lead, when he received a perfectly timed cross from Javi Romero-Salas in the right wing and slotted the ball into the open goal.

It appeared as though UST was on the verge of sneaking in a goal when goalkeeper Paeng De Guzman failed to intercept AJ Pasion’s cross, which bounced off the crossbar in the 35^th minute for a goalkick.

DLSU looked to take a commanding three-goal lead just before half time when the frontline of Diamante, Nace Gonzales, and Greggy Yang were on the attack, with the latter’s strike saved by Abraham.

No looking back

There was no looking back for La Salle in the second half as they continued to shut down the España-based team’s offense. Yang and Diamante looked to increase the lead of the Green-and-White but were denied by Abraham in their respective attempts.

Ybañez found the back of the net in the 60^th minute to push La Salle’s lead to three goals. Jed Diamante found Ybañez with a corner kick, with the latter sending the ball past Abraham.

The Growling Tigers managed to respond three minutes later from a goalkeeping error by De Guzman. Renz Gumban failed to capitalize on De Guzman’s error as his shot attempt went over the crossbar. In the 65^th minute, Dionisio Busmion came close to scoring for UST, only for his free kick to sail just over the crossbar.

Substitute Yoshi Koizumi wrapped up the scoring for the La Salle team with a goal of his own. Koizumi received a cross from winger Nace Gonzales to give La Salle its fourth goal of the game as he sent the ball past substitute keeper John Catalino’s reach.

La Salle backup goalkeeper Kerbi Almonte, who replaced Paeng De Guzman late in the second half, came up with saves of his own in the closing stages of the game to round up the victory with a clean sheet for La Salle.

Up next for the DLSU Men’s Football Team will be the ADMU Blue Eagles in the semifinals on Thursday, April 28, at 4 pm in the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.