Football rekindled the Philippines’ fabled college rivalry as De La Salle University overcame the Ateneo de Manila University at the very last second of a their UAAP men’s football first round ender, 2-1, in a jampacked University of the Philippines (UP) Football Stadium on Sunday.

Full-back Stephen Del Rosario headed the game winner off a desperation inswing from the right corner by Gab Suarez in the game’s final play.

The goal came after Ateneo midfielder Dan Maquiling sank a tying penalty kick in the game’s third minute of stoppage time, which came off a handball violation by Mikio Umilin.

“I told my teammate in the corner, ‘Gab, give it to me, give it to the back.’ I know I can take it. I’m confident. Luckily, it hit me,” Del Rosario said after the game.

Playing without team captain and Del Rosario’s backline partner Manu Cruel, the Green Archers had several offensive chances, particularly from set pieces due to Ateneo’s frequent fouling, but Atenean goalkeeper Artuz Cezar had several punch clearances to stymie La Salle’s charge.

The goalless deadlock was broken as La Salle forward Franck Anoh scored on a running power strike from 18 yards past two Atenean defenders for his first goal of the season. Pesky midfielder Mohammad Almohjili issued the pivotal assist via a looping long ball from the center half.

“I’ve been waiting for this goal for so long,” Anoh said after the game. “So now that the goal is open for me, I’m now trying to do my best and improve more and have [as many] goals as possible for the tournament.”

With the result, the Green Archers and Blue Eagles hold a similar three-win, one-draw, and two-loss card. La Salle is holds a +1 goal differential, though, to be at solo third place, despite starting the season with two straight losses and a -5 goal difference.

“I give it to the boys. This game could have gone either way, it just happened that we had the better chance and we pounced on it,” remarked La Salle head coach Hans-Peter Smit.

“They’re getting it. The boys started without that mental attitude. . . now they understand and they know that they have to believe in themselves, that they can do it,” he added, adding that their goal is to reach the final.

Standings (end of first round)

UE: 3 wins, 3 draws

FEU: 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss

La Salle: 3 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses (+1)

Ateneo: 3 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses (0)

UP: 1 win, 4 draws, 1 loss (+2)

UST: 2 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses (-2)

Adamson: 6 losses

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Wounded Tigers end skid, claw winless Adamson

By Merck Maguddayao

The depleted University of Santo Tomas (UST) won its first game since February 26, thumping Adamson University, 1-0, to close their first round campaign in the UAAP men’s football tournament Sunday at the University of the Philippines (UP) Football Stadium.

Ace forward Stephen Marasigan scored the lone goal in the 43rd minute and his third for the season.

Adamson nearly scored early in the match but Nikko Arañas long shot caromed off the top crossbar.

Carl Mahinay likewise failed on his long shot attempt to tie the game in the 90th minute as his power shot was saved by Miguel Abada.

“Again, yung si Mara[siga]. . . dahil sa kanya nanalo yung UST,” said head coach Marjo Allado after the game.

The Growling Tigers closed the first round with their second win after losing the previous games against La Salle and University of the East.

They sit at two wins, one draw, and three losses, tying UP’s seven points (one win, four draws, and one loss).

UP, however, is at fifth place with a +2 goal differential as to UST’s -2.

Allado lamented on the team’s plague of injuries as one of the reasons of their dismal run after their win against defending champions Ateneo.

“We started the first round na malakas ang UST, pero ilang key players ang nawala sa amin,” Allado said, citing the partial ACL tear of ace midfielder Jacob Garciano, the season ending injury of team captain John Bryan Baylon that requires surgery, and the sprained ankle of defender Diego Luna.

“Tinamaan kami ng injuries especially sa back line. [Pero] makakahabol pa. Iyan ang focus namin sa second round,” he ended.

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