The De La Salle University Green Archers have retained their hopes for reaching the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Football Tournament Final Four with a 1-0 win against the National University Bulldogs.
La Salle vice captain Nace Gonzales’ (11′) goal was enough for the Green Archers to eke out an important win tonight at Ateneo de Manila University’s Moro Lorenzo field.
For the Green Archers, a good start was paramount for them to continue their good form. Perhaps with revenge on their minds after their 1-3 loss in the first round, the Green Archers seized the initiative from the opening whistle.
“A win is a win. NU is not a pushover team. They hustle a lot. They’re a good team. We’re just lucky they had one mental block in the first half and we pounced on it. Fortunate for us Nace’s shot went in and we held on,” commented La Salle coach Hans-Peter Smit.
NU kept their strategy of a low defensive block in order to force a counterattack against La Salle. However, the Taft school drew first blood early in the contest, when Gonzales received a cross and struck one past NU goalie Chris Perocho in the 11th minute.
The Green Archers kept up their intensity in the contest, and could’ve had another goal when the returning Gelo Diamante forced a routine save from Perocho. La Salle had a slender lead at the break which boded well for the Green Archers.
With their tactics thrown out the window, the Bulldogs were forced to attack the Green Archers. NU striker Lawrence Colina spearheaded the Bulldogs’ attack and provoked La Salle goalie Kerbi Almonte to make a good save.
La Salle repelled whatever NU threw at them. There was no comeback this time for the Bulldogs, as the Green Archers strengthened their Final Four push with a 1-0 win. “Second round we haven’t lost yet. Hopefully we just keep it up,” concluded Smit.
Both teams shall next play on April 2 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium at Manila. NU (16 points) shall play the University of Santo Tomas at 3:00 PM, while La Salle (15 points) shall play the University of the Philippines afterwards 5:00 PM.
DLSU XI: Alcantara, Almonte, Brago, Diamante J, Diamante G, Garcia, Gonzales, Koizumi, Siggaoat, Villacin, Ybañez
NU XI: Arbela, Colina, Dagsa, Fabro, Lawagan, Perocho, Sampaga, Socrates, Sullano, Valenzuela, Viray
