THE UST Golden Booters suffered their second loss after bowing down to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 1-0, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s football tournament at the UP Diliman Football PItch on Sunday, Feb. 25.
UST’s Kyler Escobar was aggressive to start the match but to no avail, with three misfires in the second, fifth, and 10th minute, respectively.
Ateneo’s Jet Dela Cruz broke the deadlock and nailed the lone goal in the 31st minute.
The Golden Booters had their chances to equalize through an Escobar header and an attempt by Tarshish Garciano, but both sailed out.
“We had a lot of attempts in the first half pero hindi na-convert. Sa second half, we had a lot of chances, crosses, meron attempt sa last minute pero hindi pa na-finish,” UST head coach Marjo Allado told the Varsitarian. “So there’s something wrong with our finishing.”
Two potential game-tying headers by Francis Vercide, which were both assisted by Chris Valderama, hit the right post and went over the bar in the 81st and 90th minute marks.
UST fell to a 1-2-0 (W-L-D) record, while Ateneo had a 1-1-0 tally.
The UST Golden Booters will next face the UE Red Warriors at the same venue on March 3, Sunday, at 4 p.m.
