Not even the erstwhile undefeated University of the East (UE) could stop the green train, as De La Salle University finally bounced back against the Red Warriors, 2-1, in the UAAP men’s football second round Thursday at the University of the Philippines football stadium.
The win was the Green Archers’ third straight and fifth for the season as they avenged their 1-5 season opener shellacking by Red Warriors.
Ivorian forward Franck Anoh was Mr. Everywhere for La Salle, issuing a right cross toward an open Mikio Umilin from the left flank of the box for the Green Archers’ first goal in the first half stoppage time.
Anoh then opened the second half on fire, striking from the six yard box off a short right cross from Roberto Cruel in the 49th minute.
“We came back from that frustration from our last game [with UE],” Anoh said about the performance of his team. “We gave them their first loss of the tournament and we’re very happy about it.”
The Red Warriors, though, were given golden opportunities to tie the game but flunked when it mattered most.
In the 53rd minute, La Sallian fullback Rain Del Rosario was given a penalty after fouling Jerome Abarca inside the box but the ensuing spot kick by Nikko Palacio was blocked by towering goalkeeper Enrico Manalang to save the game for the Green Archers.
UE would ultimately score from another penalty given to La Salle for a handball violation three minutes later, as striker Edmar Adonis displaced Manalang and sank the spot kick to the left side of the goal.
Adonis’ goal proved to be just a consolation as La Salle defended well the Red Warriors running attacks, especially in the latter’s final third, to run away with another pulsating victory.
“We cannot lose twice to the same team,” La Salle manager Hans-Peter Smit asserted. “First game of the season, they embarrassed us really bad. So we had to take that back, which [our players] did.”
La Salle now has two-point lead over Ateneo De Manila for the top spot with five wins, two losses, and a draw.
On the other hand, UE, the surprise leader of the first round, drops to fourth place with three wins, three draws, and a loss.
