THE UST Junior Golden Booters remained undefeated after trouncing the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3-1, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 boys’ football tournament at the UP Diliman Football Pitch on Sunday, Feb. 11.
UST notched the win coming off a 1-1 stalemate against Ateneo last week. The Junior Golden Booters improved their league-best record to 3-0-1 (W-L-D), while Ateneo remained winless with a 0-3-1 slate.
Last season’s runner-up De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) and defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman are tied at the second spot with identical 2-1-0 records.
Back-to-back goals by Kent de la Peña and Trez Mariñas in the 12th and 13th minutes set the tone for the Junior Golden Booters.
After 26 minutes, Mariñas completed his brace in the 39th minute to mount a 3-0 UST lead at halftime.
Blue Eagle Enrique Pastor delivered Ateneo’s lone goal in the 55th minute.
“In order to qualify kasi sa finals is to score goals, and nagawa nila ‘yung sinabi namin na better kung maka-score tayo ng goal before the 15th minute para maka-gain sila ng confidence and ma-control nila ‘yung laro,” UST head coach Marjo Allado said postgame.
A win or draw against DLSZ in their second-round clash would secure the Junior Golden Booters their first-ever finals ticket in the UAAP.
“Yung confidence level [ng La Salle] mataas kasi they also have a chance na makapasok sa finals,” said Allado. “Focus lang kami kung ano weaknesses ng La Salle, so we will try our best na manalo against La Salle, pero bilog ang bola.”
The UST Junior Golden Booters will next face the De La Salle Junior Green Booters at the same venue on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m.
