The DLSU Green Booters dominated the UE Red Warriors, 3-0, in their UAAP Season 88 Round Two matchup earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
The Green-and-White’s opening goal came from Lucas Aguilar’s penalty kick at the 32nd minute, giving them a much-needed head start.
As the game progressed, the Green Booters showed relentless aggression as they cracked down on the Red Warriors’ crumbling defense, with John Gaverza and Sebastian Fronda delivering back-to-back goals in the 82nd and 85th minutes, respectively, sealing the crucial victory.
Aggression and prowess
The match kicked off with high intensity as UE immediately launched an offensive surge, forcing the Green Booters’ defense and goalkeeper Jason John Salavante to spring into action within the opening minute. Despite the Recto-based squad’s aggressive start, the Green Booters displayed immense defensive prowess to weather the early storm. Anchored by the composure of Team Captain Frank Labayen and Prince Reyes, the DLSU backline suffocated passing lanes and neutralized UE’s main scorer John Sumanoy, preventing the Warriors from establishing a rhythm.
As the momentum shifted, La Salle unleashed its own attacking aggression to break the deadlock. Bacchus Ekberg and James Sibla dictated the tempo, feeding passes to Gaverza and Lance Locsin to stretch the field and trouble the UE defense. The relentless pressure finally paid dividends at the 30’ mark when a surging Gaverza was brought down and tackled inside the box. Aguilar stepped up to the spot, calmly burying the penalty in the 32’ mark to give the Green-and-White a 1-0 lead.
With the lead in grasp, the Green Booters tightened their stranglehold on the match, showcasing total control on both ends of the field. The defensive unit remained impenetrable, limiting the Recto-based team to zero attempts in the first half, while the offense continued to press for a second goal. Although a stoppage-time connection between Locsin and Aguilar just missed the target, DLSU entered the break with a well-earned 1-0 advantage, buoyed by a dominant display of grit and discipline.
Eager to stay on top
Carrying a 1-0 advantage entering the second half, the Lasallians looked to capitalize and put the Red Warriors away after previous struggles to close with a victory. Both sides battled for possession at the halfway line, but they remained even, intercepting their respective breakthroughs. The Recto-based squad would strike first with a chance as they drew a foul just outside the box. Sumanoy’s curved free kick gave the green shirts a scare, but Salavante caught it just in time before the ball could pass to the left top side.
In response, the Green Booters started to counterattack, playing through their wings to create chances at a goal. La Salle found their way to pierce through UE’s box, but their attempts were easily dealt with due to mistimed runs. At the 55’ mark, Sibla found himself open to create an opportunity to score, but a pass to Ekberg would be called offside. The Booters remained relentless in their attacking, leading to increased shots on goal and cleaner runs.
The Green-and-White continued to pile pressure on the Warriors through tightened ball possession, paired with compact defending from Labayen to prevent a rare UE opportunity. Labayen then broke through the opponents’ defense, leading to another chance for Aguilar, only to be saved by Joniel Pamati-an. After multiple chances created, the Lasallians would finally break through at the 82’ mark as Gaverza caught a saved attempt by Rolando Torres to double the green shirts’ lead, 2-0. Making matters worse for the white shirts, La Salle would find the net just three minutes later, courtesy of substitute Fronda, to stamp their dominance with a 3-0 scoreline. DLSU maintained their aggressiveness throughout the additional time given, but they would walk away with an emphatic victory and await the result of their archrivals’ match with the FEU Tamaraws to decide their season.
The Green Booters now shift their attention to their final match of Round Two against the top-seeded UP Fighting Maroons on Thursday, January 29, at 6:30 pm, at the same venue, aiming to convert their momentum to a potential berth in the Final Four.
