THE UST Golden Booters suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against the DLSU Green Booters in the UAAP Season 87 men’s football tournament on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the UP Football Stadium.
Coming in as a substitute striker, Green Booter Lucas Aguilar delivered the decisive goal in the 89th minute to seize their first victory of the season.
With the defeat, UST now holds a 1-2 record. Meanwhile, DLSU improved to 1-1.
Golden Booter winger Chris Valderama had a handful of long-range attempts in the first half but failed to convert.
The Taft-based squad’s goalkeeper and captain Enrico Mangaoang had his first clean sheet of the season after deflecting shots from UST midfielders Patrick Baito and TJ Garciano.
No team was able to put the ball through the net until Aguilar found an opening late in the game to break the stalemate with a clutch goal.
“Some of the players still had hangovers from their victory against UP,” UST assistant coach Biboy Esteban told The Flame.
The España squad previously snapped its eight-year drought against defending champions UP Fighting Maroons with a 1-0 victory on Sept. 19.
Reflecting on their loss, Esteban added that the Golden Booters will focus on their scoring as they head into their next game.
UST will look to bounce back in their next match against Adamson on Oct. 13, at the same venue. F
