THE UST Golden Booters yielded to the UP Fighting Maroons, 1-2 , in the UAAP Season 89 men’s football tournament on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the UP Diliman Football Field.
The victory marked UP’s first win in its title defense, while UST opened its campaign with two consecutive losses.
CJ Songalia held UST’s first chance of the match in the 24th minute, but his attempt failed to beat the UP defense as the Golden Booters struggled against the team’s possession-heavy attack in the first half.
The Fighting Maroons took the lead in the 69th minute when Joshua Merino capitalized on a failed clearance from UST inside the box, 0-1.
UST immediately threatened to respond as Trez Mariñas fired an attempt a minute later, but UP goalkeeper Fonzy Gonzales came up with a big save to preserve the lead.
Ramil Bation doubled UP’s lead in the 90th minute, slotting the ball past UST goalkeeper Mark Daig into the bottom-left corner, 2-0.
UST pulled one back in stoppage time as Mariñas set up Val Orate in the 93rd minute, but the late consolation came too late for the España-based squad.
The Golden Booters will look to get their first points of the season against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the same venue. F
