THE UST Golden Booters weathered another late surge to draw against University of the Philippines (UP), 1-1, in the UAAP men’s football tournament at the Far Eastern University-Diliman field last Jan. 19.
The Fighting Maroons unleashed back-to-back attempts in stoppage time to try and take the game after Gabriel Mendoza scored the equalizer in the 69th minute.
UP’s Carlos Monfort was setting up Fe Baya for a goal with a pass from the right wing.
Monfort’s pass put Baya in a one-on-one situation with UST’s goalkeeper but the goalie quickly dove for the ball before Baya could kick it in.
Just a few seconds before the final whistle was blown, Francisco Santos emerged ahead of the pack after a scramble in the midfield.
Santos dribbled the ball near the right corner pocket and unloaded another cross pass but the Golden Booter goalie jumped to catch the ball intended for a header.
“[The defenders] lost composure when they saw (Shinmar) Felongco go down. They thought it was going to be a foul. UP played on, and that’s how they scored,” Golden Booters coach Marjo Allado said.
Earlier, Fidel Kue put UST on top in the 27th minute with a goal.
The Golden Booters threatened to secure the match in the 71st minute when Darwin Busmion’s pass put teammate Jogi Celiz within striking distance of the goal post.
Celiz’ attempt was deflected and UP was forced to give up the corner.
The corner was easily cleared by the Maroon defenders.
“One of the factors in this game was the wind. We dominated the first half because the wind was in our favor, but it became UP’s in the second, that’s why they caught up,” Allado said.
In their previous match, the Golden Booters survived a late-game scare from the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 4-3, at the same venue last Jan. 12.
NU’s Paolo Salenga was given a free kick in the 88th minute after Golden Booter Nicanor Palencia was whistled for pushing. Salenga’s flick almost went in but it was teammate Anthony Antipolo who put the ball in, 3-4.
After trailing most of the game, NU tried to mount a comeback courtesy of John Nico Macapagal’s goal in the 78th minute off Golden Booters’ failed attempt, 2-3.
In the 45th minute, Palencia used quick footwork to storm past NU defenders and hit the ball past the goalkeeper.
The Golden Booters waxed hot on offense and had consecutive attempts in the succeeding possessions.
In the 50th minute, the Bulldogs’ defense was caught napping as Jean Mari Clarino quickly eluded his defenders and went for a shot but it was too strong.
Soon after, Felongco received Clarino’s free kick and was on-target with his header but was called offside.
In the 81st minute, UST’s Kennedy Uzoka was awarded with a point that should have been an own goal for NU after the Bulldogs scrambled to clear the ball that was accidentally sent inside the post, 4-2.
Earlier, Felongco steered UST to an early 2-0 lead after back-to-back goals in the 12th and 20th minute.
Salenga scored the Bulldogs’ first goal in the 27th minute.
