THE UST Golden Booters crushed the UE Red Warriors, 6-1, to secure their second win in the UAAP Season 86 men’s football tournament at the UP Diliman Football Pitch on Sunday, March 3.
UST drew first blood in the 18th minute via a goal by Andrew Ramos.
UST took advantage of UE’s crumbling defense as Chris Valderama converted a pass by Jacob Garciano in the 38th minute before Archie Belluga scored in the 43rd minute to give UST a 3-0 lead at halftime.
UST team captain and goalkeeper Miguel Abada erased UE’s offense early in the second half, blocking three attempts in the 50th, 51st and 57th minutes.
Back-to-back goals by Golden Booters Patrick isBaito and Kyle Escobar in the 65th and 74th minutes widened UST’s lead to five, 5-0.
UE had another chance to score in the 80th minute, but UST’s substitute goalkeeper Carlo Fernandez denied the attack.
Shortly after, CJ Songalia pinned the Red Warriors down after scoring in the 81st minute.
With UE still scoreless, team captain Nikko Palacio secured a goal in the penalty area to deliver the Red Warriors’ lone goal in the 83rd minute.
“It’s a good result for us at least ‘yong scoring percentage medyo tumaas but we still have to correct some mistakes,” UST head coach Marjo Allado told the Varsitarian. “But today’s result is maganda for the players para ma-boost ‘yong confidence nila. We needed this win kasi e.”
“Iyong mistakes namin last time against Ateneo that we could not convert goals sa attacking, na-address namin so sana magiging habit na namin ‘yan kasi malaking bagay siya,” he added.
UST improved to a 2-2-0 (W-L-D) tally, while UE suffered its third loss and dropped to a 1-3-0 record.
The UST Golden Booters will next face the DLSU Green Booters at the same venue on Wednesday, Mar. 14, at 2 p.m.
