THE UST Golden Booters suffered a last-minute heartbreak to open their UAAP Season 89 men’s football campaign, falling to the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 1-0, on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
Marlon Dasig broke through in the 94th minute, firing the game-winning goal off an assist from Dani Golike to hand Adamson the three points.
The Golden Booters came out aggressively in the first half, with Novie Paraiso having an early chance in the eighth minute before being ruled offside.
Adamson nearly opened the scoring three minutes later, but its free kick went straight into the hands of UST goalkeeper Mark Daig.
Despite a solid defensive effort, the España-based squad struggled to find the back of the net, with striker Renan Ballespin firing multiple attempts but failing to convert.
UST had another opportunity to break the deadlock in the 82nd minute, but Francis Botavara’s free kick sailed over the post.
With both squads still searching for the breakthrough, the match grew more physical later in the second half before Dasig finally found the back of the net in stoppage time.
The Golden Booters registered 13 shots, with five on target, while Adamson recorded 10 shots and seven on target.
The Golden Booters will look to bounce back against last season’s defending champions, UP Fighting Maroons, on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the same venue. F
