FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle nipped University of the Philippines, 2-1, in a thrilling match in the nightcap of UAAP Season 76 men’s football triple-header Friday at the FEU-Diliman pitch.
The Green Archers (1-0-2) gained their first three points of the season, with the help of goals from Chuck Uy and Iñigo Gonzales, to halt a two-game slide.
“La Salle never lost three straight games. We should win this game no matter what. It’s all about pride, if we lost, we will have a hard time,” said head coach Hans Smit.
Uy opened scoring for the Green Archers by following up a miss by Nate Alquiros in the 11th minute, before Jinggoy Valmayor tied the count for UP with just 50 seconds into the second half.
La Salle quickly regained the upper hand as Gonzales struck in the 50th minute. Gio Diamante had a chance to add to the lead but his penalty kick was collected by UP keeper Ace Villanueva.
The Green Archers, though, let the Fighting Maroons slip past their defense a couple of times in the second half, but UP just couldn’t convert.
It was a frustrating finish for UP, which had a chance to equalize in a span of two minutes but Gadia’s attempt hit the post in the 71st, before Valmayor’s met the crossbar in the 73rd.
Smit said that his team sorely missed the services of ace striker Gelo Diamante, who is out for the rest of the first round due to dengue.
“All our games, we are dominating 80-20 but we lost. Against UE, we were ahead again. This time, its early goal again (by UP in the second half) and I said here we go again,” said Smit,
The loss left UP, last season’s runner-up, as the only team without a point in the tournament.