LAST season’s bronze medalist De La Salle University banked on a strong first half to bring down University of the East, 2-1, in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Christian Peñalosa set the tone for the Green Booters with a goal in the 15th minute while Isaac Anoh gave La Salle its safety cushion in the 45+4 minute to seize a 2-0 lead.
“A win is a win. Remember we started very slow last year,” said coach Alvin Ocampo. “I always tell the players that I don’t want to play catch up. We have to start our campaign strong, especially since we’re done with UE for the first round.”
After clinching all three points to kickstart their campaign, the Green Booters will try to build on this result when they take on defending champions FEU Tamaraws this Thursday at 4 p.m. at the same venue.
It will be a rematch of last year’s Final Four clash, which FEU won 2-0 en route to its championship. However, for Ocampo, the game will be all about La Salle trying to get another victory and not revenge.
“We just have to go for the win because we don’t even know FEU’s composition. We haven’t seen them. All I know is they have nine players coming from the junior champion team,” said Ocampo.
In between La Salle’s goals, referee John Mike Basinang dismissed UE defender Jam Rey Mariveles in the 29th minute after the latter hit Peñalosa.
Defender John Erick Telin pulled one back for UE in the 90+2 minute from close range but it was a case of too little, too late.
The Red Warriors will try to bounce back this Sunday against the Adamson Soaring Falcons. That game will kick off at 7 p.m. at the same Quezon City pitch.
UE XI: Pamati-an (GK), Palacio (C), Hernan, Lauriano, Mariveles, Hermoso, Macaraig, Dela Cruz, Madrid, Adonis, Modin.
DLSU XI: Mangaoang (GK), Cruel, Henares, Almohjili (C), Peñalosa, Dela Cruz, Suarez III, Lozano, Bengay, Abela, Labayen.
