THE UST Golden Booters failed to maintain their winning streak after falling to the UP Fighting Maroons, 0-4, in the last game of the elimination round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s football tournament on Sunday.
Despite the loss at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, UST booked its ticket to the Final Four and locked in the tournament’s third seed.
Meanwhile, UP reclaimed its number-one spot in the league with 27 points.
Midfielder Tarshish Garciano, who propelled UST in its win against Adamson on April 25, did not play in last Sunday’s game. Miguel Abada, the Booters’ goalkeeper and team captain also missed the game.
It was a slow match early in the first half, with both teams having near misses. The Golden Booters struggled with their defense, allowing Fighting Maroon’s forward Francis Tacardon to open the scoring at the 45th mark, 1-0.
The two teams made adjustments in the second half, but UST cannot keep up with its defense. UP’s midfielder Lorenz Tortona fumbled UST’s substitute goalkeeper Carlo Fernandez in the 54th minute to gain a 2-0 cushion.
The Golden Booters attempted to diminish the lead, but the Maroons executed a stable defense led by goalkeeper Chevery Celeste.
UP took advantage of UST’s faulty defense, with midfielder Orlan Togores scoring a goal from close range in the 82nd minute, piercing through Thomasian goalkeeper Taiyo Nakata’s defense, 3-0.
Vincent Parpan then delivered the match-winning goal for UP in the 87th minute, 4-0.
The Golden Booters’ Final Four campaign now hinges on the result of the game between FEU Tamaraws and UE Red Warriors on May 2 at the same venue.
If FEU wins, UST and UP would face off in the semi-finals. If UE beats FEU, the Golden Booters would square off with the Tamaraws. F
