The DLSU Green Booters bowed down to the defending champion UP Fighting Maroons, 2-0, in their UAAP Season 87 Men’s Football Tournament Round One battle earlier today, October 27, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
The Fighting Maroons’ Joses Azur put the Diliman-based squad ahead in the 82nd minute. Ramil Bation III doubled their advantage immediately after in the 83rd minute to add to La Salle’s woes.
Captain’s stand
The DLSU Green Booters started the game by dealing with the defending champions’ high intensity, struggling to break down the Fighting Maroons’ press. The Green-and-White were left exposed as UP counterattacked, forcing Captain Enrico Mangaoang to make an early save in the second minute. Despite good defensive displays by La Salle, UP controlled possession early on. DLSU fought back as their high press allowed them to halt UP’s charge and play from the back to organize their offense.
In the 13th minute, Gabe Suarez sent a through ball for Vin Dela Cruz, but UP goalkeeper Jose Gonzales intercepted it. The Green Booters built on their positive play and were able to string together passes for Jefferson Tolimao, who broke into the Fighting Maroons’ box in the 21st minute. However, he was quickly surrounded by defenders, nullifying his shot.
Alarm bells rang for the Green Booters when the Diliman-based squad was given a penalty at the 30th minute. With all eyes on him, Mangaoang dove in the right direction to keep the game level, 0-all. Energized by their captain’s save, the Green Booters remained digging into their defensive tactics, as Robby Cruel dealt with the Fighting Maroons’ attacks from their left wing. La Salle remained in their defensive end to conclude the half, looking for an opening in the counterattack. They found a chance at the 45+2’ mark but were unable to capitalize, ending the first half level, 0-all.
Back-to-back wake-up calls
Both squads put the underwhelming first half behind them, battling to break the deadlock in the initial minutes of the second half. The Fighting Maroons prevailed in the struggle for control. The Green-and-White responded with aggression, leading to consistent scrambles and free kicks awarded to UP. The Green Booters abandoned their goal-making efforts in an attempt to clog the Diliman-based squad’s charge led by Marc Tobias, but Mangaong was quick to catch his cross. Tolimao sought to gift the Green Booters a single goal but found himself closing in with UP’s goalkeeper, shattering the Lasallian faithful’s hope for an advance.
The reigning victors placed pressure on DLSU after producing uninterrupted goal pushes, including Cian Galsim’s strike over the bar. From then on, the white shirts have successfully claimed the determination of the Green Booters. Azur leveraged the opportunity for the UP Fighting Maroons when he found the net inside the box at the 83rd minute, gifting an advantage to his team while the Green Booters trailed behind, 1-0. Before the Lasallians could register Azur’s rapid hit, Bation III fired another goal inside the penalty area to register 2-0 at the 84th minute. Hope remained strong for the Green jerseys as Tolimao made a solitary attempt along the touchline during the six minutes of added time, but it was past the point for the Green Booters to mount a comeback, closing the match at 2-0.
With a 2-1-3 record, the DLSU Green Booters look forward to their next match as they look to initiate a Round Two comeback.
