By: Nicole Parallag
Lucas Aguilar continued his fine scoring form for De La Salle University, propelling the Green Booters to the top of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament standings with a 1-0 victory over the University of Santo Tomas on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The De La Salle Zobel alumnus scored the breakthrough goal just four minutes into the second half, handing La Salle the crucial lead and bringing his tally to five goals this season after a scoreless opening half.
At the other end of the pitch, La Salle goalkeeper Iñigo Castro delivered a spectacular performance, recording his fifth clean sheet of the season by denying every attempt from UST to find an equalizer.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“We prepared really well for this game, kase we knew that UST is malakas talaga na kalaban,” said coach Richard Leyble. “Di namin afford ang mag-relax sa game na ‘to. We needed to improve and prepare to beat them. So now we go back to the drawing board and think about how we get the next three points.”
The victory marked an improvement for the Green Booters from their previous encounter with the Golden Booters on October 26, when neither side managed to break the deadlock, forcing both teams to settle for a share of the points.
With the win, La Salle overtook the University of the Philippines for the top spot in the standings.
Although both teams are tied at 17 points, the Green Booters hold the advantage with a superior goal difference of plus-14 compared to the Fighting Maroons’ plus-five.
La Salle will look to build on its momentum when it faces archrival Ateneo de Manila University this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the same venue.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the other hand, the result dealt a setback to UST, which was coming off a dominant victory over the University of the East in its previous outing, highlighted by Joshua Balliner’s first hat trick in the Seniors Division.
The Golden Booters struggled to find an equalizer throughout the second half as La Salle maintained firm control of possession.
UST had a last-ditch opportunity from a corner kick that could have spoiled La Salle’s victory, but the Golden Booters failed to capitalize.
UST, which remains fourth in the standings with 14 points, will return to action next Thursday after a week-long break.
The Golden Booters will open a triple-header at 2:00 p.m. against Ateneo at the same UP venue.
