The DLSU Men’s Football Team once again faced its eternal rivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles, earlier today at the Moro Lorenzo field in Ateneo. ADMU scored the only goal of the game in the 35th minute to give La Salle its first loss of the season. Jarvey Gayoso managed to break free from the defense and chip the ball past goalkeeper Kerbi Almonte to find the back of the net.
Coach Hans Smit commented on Gayoso’s goal, saying, “We had him covered, but it just so happens that in one throw-in situation, he moved and we lost focus.”
First half
ADMU started the first half on a high note as it immediately made a series of offensive plays. An early attempt by Mario Ceniza coming off a bad pass from Jose Montelibano to clear the ball served as the first shot of the game. It was quickly followed by a free kick from Gayoso which went way off the crossbar.
After 20 minutes of play, Nace Gonzales displayed his quickness as he beat his marker down the left wing. However, his cross was caught by the keeper. ADMU then answered back with consistent passing which garnered the Blue Eagles a couple of free kicks which went wide.
A miscommunication by La Salle gave Alfredo Mathay a chance to slip past the line of defense, but his attempt went wide. A foul from Gonzales during the 28′ mark rewarded ADMU with another free kick. Gayoso found Julian Roxas for the header, but it went wide of the left post.
Despite the continuous attacks and breaks of the game going to ADMU, center back Noel Brago anchored La Salle. However, at the 35th minute, a pass from Ryan Haosen coming off a throw-in found Gayoso deep into the left side of the box. The sophomore remained calm as he slip ped past theLasallians and chipped the ball to the right side of the net.
Not long after the first goal, ADMU garnered another free kick from a foul from Marcus Garcia. This gave way to a close call from Roxas as he misfired inches from the crossbar. La Salle had its last attempt right before half time when Jed Diamante managed to find Christopher Lawless with the latter heading the ball wide.
A miscommunication by La Salle gave Alfredo Mathay a chance to slip past the line of defense, but his attempt goes wide. A foul from Gonzales during the 28′ mark rewarded ADMU with another free kick. Gayoso found Julian Roxas for the header, but it went wide of the left post.
Despite the continuous attacks and breaks of the game going to ADMU, center back Noel Brago anchored the La Salle. However, on 36th minute a pass from Ryan Haosen coming off a throw-in found Gayoso deep into the left side of the box. The sophomore remained calm as he slipped past the Lasallians and chipped the ball to the right side of the net.
Not long after the first goal, ADMU garnered another free kick from a foul from Marcus Garcia. This gave way to a close call from Roxas as he misfired inches from the crossbar.
La Salle had its last attempt right before half time when Jed Diamante managed to find Christopher Lawless with the latter heading the ball wide.
Second half
The Lasallians managed control the ball more after the halftime whistle even as ADMU still had chances of its own. The Green-and-White continued to run its plays in pursuit of scoring an equalizer, but the ADMU defense managed to remain composed. Ayoso continued to show his speed and agility as he broke down La Salle’s midfield, but one of his passes was called for offside.
At the 87th minute, a counter attack was again forced by ADMU. Substitute Samuel Lim met a well-timed through ball and raced past the defense. However he was denied as Almonte charged off his line. DLSU maintained its energy and continued to press for an equalizer. In added time, a free kick from Diamante proved to be La Salle’s best opportunity of the game.
The sophomore’s free kick found Mauro Acot for what proved to be La Salle’s closest scoring attempt of the game. The rookie was denied by the ADMU goalkeeper Alexandre Arcilla and had another chance to score on the rebound, only to fire over the crossbar.
Despite the result and La Salle now holding one win, one draw, and one loss, Smit is unbothered about the situation.”Our target is top four muna. They’re on a roll, but you cannot be on a roll all the time so they’re bound to fail and we could just get better.”
La Salle will play its next game of the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Football Tournament versus the AdU Soaring Falcons on Sunday, February 19, at 9 am in FEU-Diliman.
