THE UST Junior Golden Booters suffered their first loss of the season, falling 1-0 to the PAREF Southridge Admirals in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ football tournament on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
With the loss, the Junior Golden Booters dropped to a 3-1-1 win-draw-loss record with 10 points and a plus-4 goal differential. Meanwhile, the Admirals secured their second victory to improve to 2-1-2 for seven points.
“Madami ‘yong chances, marami naman kaming nagawa, problema lang, hindi pumapasok sa goal,” UST assistant coach David Basa told the Varsitarian.
“Possibleng [nang-gigil], possible din na mentally, medyo wala pa kami dun sa level ng scoring na maraming goals,” he added.
Southridge broke through in the 66th minute, with Francis Poticano converting the game’s lone goal to make it 1-0.
Multiple crosses into the box from Xin Salanatin and Josh Moleje gave UST opportunities to equalize late in the second half, but the Southridge defense held firm.
“Sana next game kami ‘yong unang maka-goal para tuloy-tuloy [‘yong momentum],” Basa said.
The Junior Golden Booters will attempt to bounce back against the Claret School of Quezon City Red Roosters on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the same venue.
