After heavy rains forced the postponement of the much-awaited UAAP Season 87 Men’s Football Tournament opener, the DLSU Green Booters endured a tough, lopsided loss in their unusual continuation match against the ADMU Blue Eagles, 4-1, earlier tonight, October 3, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
Defender Jet Dela Cruz made half of the goals for Ateneo at 49’ and 55’ marks, while Ildefonse Escobin and Galen Fernandez scored a goal apiece at 62’ and 90+5’ marks, respectively. Meanwhile, Luis Henares’ lone cross from the 52’ mark was La Salle’s only goal against their rivals.
A game of almost
There were no clouds in the sky, just a La Salle header fired from the get-go to resume where they left off against the Blue Eagles in the 14th minute, but the Green Booters’ early chance was kaput. However, the Green-and-White kept the upper hand after starting the game with possession, allowing them consistent pass plays and scoring opportunities. Team Captain and goalkeeper Enrico Mangaoang fired a shot from his six-yard box in hopes of giving La Salle a miraculous lead, but the ball went straight into the hands of Ateneo goalkeeper Artuz Cezar. Inspired by their skipper, the Green Booters continued to launch threats at the opposition’s box, with Adrian Bacolod’s calculated cross and Paolo Go’s rapid kick startling Cezar. However, these touchdowns lacked conversion, leaving a blank slate for La Salle.
The Green Booters’ command began to decay as the action started to brew in the midfield. Dov Cariño started the momentum for the Blue Eagles with a snap cross and a header that went past Mangaong and close to the goal line. The Lasallians struggled to come to the forefront as Ateneo dominated the field. After an unsuccessful corner kick by Matteo Roxas, Go passed the ball to the unaccompanied Bacolod near the penalty arc for short rushes at 42’ and 45’+1’ that stood unconverted. As the two minutes of added time in the first half neared its expiry, Maquiling launched a quick Hail Mary to take the lead over the Green Booters, but both teams delivered a timid first half, 0-all.
Rapid fire
Both teams entered the second half tied and determined to seize control of the game, but it was La Salle who made an immediate impact after the break, with Tolimao finding himself in a good position to attack, only to lose possession before he could convert. Another chance slipped through for DLSU when Aguilar overshot a pass that would have given Tolimao another opening.
Ateneo swiftly took advantage of these missed opportunities with a breakthrough in the 48th minute, when Dela Cruz scored the first goal of the game with a well-timed header off of a precisely delivered free kick by Roxas, giving Ateneo the lead and a surge of confidence, 1-0. However, the Taft-based squad quickly regrouped and mounted a response just three minutes later. Off a free-kick scramble in the 51st minute, Henares lasered a shot past Cezar, leveling the field, 1-all.
Keeping their foot on the gas, the Blue Eagles wasted no time getting back on the scoreboard as Dela Cruz struck again, tapping in a goal from close range after a well-executed corner piece just three minutes later, 2-1. The Blue Eagles’ relentless attack continued as showcased by Escobin’s header in the 61st minute for Ateneo’s third goal from yet another corner, assisted by Maquiling, 3-1. With a comfortable lead, Ateneo appeared to have full control of the game, while DLSU struggled to regain their footing.
Despite being down by two goals, the Green-and-White fought hard to create chances, but struggled to find the back of the net, with another off-target shot attempted by Jefferson Tomilao in the 66th minute. Meanwhile, Ateneo maintained their offensive pressure, and physical play escalated on both sides, with Ateneo players Arias and Lim receiving yellow cards. Vin Dela Cruz’s shot attempt in the 73rd minute showcased DLSU’s frustrations in breaking through the Blue Eagles’ rearguard.
Ateneo’s defense remained rigid, with Arias playing a crucial role in shutting down a dangerous run by Tomilao in the 77th minute. Carino countered with a deep run inside DLSU’s box, but his shot misfired in the 78th minute. Despite their comfortable lead, the Katipunan-based side showed no signs of slowing down, continuing to apply pressure on DLSU’s backline.
As the match drew to a close, Ateneo remained on the offensive, looking to seal the victory with a fourth goal. Their persistence paid off in stoppage time when Carino made an impressive run and set up Fernandez for a tap-in goal in the 90+2’ mark, capping off an outstanding second-half performance and securing a 4-1 victory for Ateneo.
The DLSU Green Booters will look to bounce back and continue their hunt for their first victory in UAAP Season 87 when they take on the UST Growling Tigers next on October 6, Sunday, at 2 pm at the same venue.
