THE UST Golden Booters settled for a 3-3 stalemate against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Division 1 of the Ang Liga men’s football tournament at the UP Diliman Football Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Blue Eagle Francis Matugas’s last-minute header in the 90+5 mark forced the draw.
With the game tied at 2-all during halftime, Golden Booter Francis Botavara broke the deadlock with an 87th-minute header to give UST a 3-2 lead.
It was a showdown between UST’s Chris Valderama and Ateneo’s Luard Abaa in the first half after each scored braces for their respective teams.
Valderama converted a screamer in the 10th minute before Abaa converted a Matteo Roxas pass in the 20th minute to tie the game at 1-all.
Five minutes later, UST regained the lead with another Valderama goal, 2-1.
A strategic Galen Fernandez pass to Abaa led to an Ateneo goal in the 45+2 minute mark.
UST assistant coach Arman “Biboy” Esteban praised the rookie Golden Booters, who stepped up as starters.
“Maganda ‘yung laro nila, parang hindi sila rookies maglaro,” he told the Varsitarian. “From the first minute up to the last minute, at least ‘yung possession nasa amin tapos ‘yung laro nila meron silang combination at crosses.”
“Para sa mga batang first year, ‘yung game kanina parang hindi first year ‘yung mga naglalaro.”
The UST Golden Booters will next face the UP Fighting Maroons at the same venue on Sept. 9, Saturday, at 4 p.m.
