The DLSU Men’s Football Team played the FEU Tamaraws to a 1-all draw yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The first goal of the game came from Tamaraw Alex Rayos at the 34th minute while Juan Siggaoat of La Salle leveled the score at the 52′ mark off a Noel Brago free kick.
First half opportunities
Both teams came into the game in high spirits as goal attempts were immediately seen early on. Two minutes after kickoff, La Salle and FEU were given a free kick each as fouls were committed. Just three minutes later, the Tamaraws gave the Green-and-White its first scare. Fortunately for the Lasallians, the on-target shot by Rayos was easily caught by their goalkeeper, Paeng De Guzman. At the 8′ mark, the first DLSU goal opportunity was courtesy of a pass to Jose Montelibano inside the box, but he was not able to fend off the two defenders.
Numerous goal attempts from the two teams occurred, but were not utilized. It was not until the 33′ mark that Rayos scored the first goal of the game for FEU. The goal was scored after De Guzman was sent scrambling from a previous on-target shot by another Tamaraw which he deflected with difficultly. At the 40th minute, the first yellow card of the game was given to La Salle’s Marcus Garcia after committing a foul against Paolo Bugas. Five minutes before the halftime whistle, two on-target shots were made by Garcia and Nace Gonzales, aiming to give DLSU its much needed equalizer. Unfortunately for the Green-and-White, both went straight to the hands of FEU’s goalkeeper, Ray Joyel.
Yellow card laden second half
Not losing its momentum, the team from Taft continued to challenge the defense of the Tamaraws. Montelibano had FEU scrambling immediately coming in the second half as he rushed to the ball which was near the net. Luckily for the Tamaraws, Joyel made a stop just in time. Nonetheless, at the 52nd minute, Brago was awarded with a free kick. He then sent the ball towards the box with Siggaoat sending the ball home with a header to level the score.
The referee’s decision was then questioned at the 60′ mark as Yoshi Koizumi of La Salle fell inside the box. The official then awarded the Green-and-White a corner kick, but DLSU head coach Hans Smit thought otherwise. “It was a freaking penalty, everybody saw it. Officiating can make or break the game. I know I’m supposed to be professional about this, but this is too much already.”
Just nine minutes later, another issue ensued as Audie Menzi of FEU fouled Gonzales. A small squabble between the two teams had the referee’s scrambling and giving out yellow cards to Menzi, Nicko Villacin, and Jed Diamante of DLSU. The showing of yellow cards continued as Lasallian Mauro Acot and Joyel were cautioned at the 84′ and 90+2′ marks, respectively.
“The yellow card on Nicko? First time I see going up for a challenge and gets a yellow card just because the other one got hurt,” Smit said after the game. Despite the several disputes at the final minutes of the game, both teams did not fray and unsuccessfully searched for the game-winning goal before the final whistle.
The Lasallians will continue their bid to advance to the UAAP Season 79 Final Four against the NU Bulldogs on Thursday, March 30, at 4 pm in the Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo.
