Coming off a 1-all draw against Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), the Far Eastern University (FEU) men’s football team had to settle for another tied outcome after a 2-all draw against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Booters in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 81 men’s football tournament, February 28, at the FEU Diliman football field.

With the stalemate finish, FEU now sports a 1-2-0 win-draw-loss record, while UST holds a 1-3-0 slate.

The undefeated Golden Booters flaunted an excellent job in their defense against the Tamaraws in the early-goings of the match. This opened up an opportunity at the 28th minute mark, as UST’s Conrado Dimacali Jr. was the first to tally his name on sheets.

Coming into the second half of the game, FEU battled hard to strike a point against UST. Moreover, despite the great defensive effort shown by UST rookie Erich Orale, FEU team captain Pio Saldivar was able to put his team on board at exactly 52:15 on the mark to knot the game at 1-all.

A couple of sequences later, another goal was netted by rookie Gio Pabualan with a great assist by Alex Rayos in the 81st minute mark to push FEU to a 2-1 cushion.

“Tingin ko napagod sila tapos ‘yung mga tactics na tinuro ni coach, na-apply namin sa game. Tsaka inobserbahan din namin sila noong nakaraan (I think they got tired and all the tactics that our coach taught us, we were able to apply in the game. In addition, we also observed them last game),” Saldivar beamed.

As time starts to dwindle, the physicality and tension continued to broil in the match as Tamaraw goalkeeper, Dave Parac, gained a bruise in his right eye for saving two consecutive crucial strikes made by UST to stay alive in the game. However, after the match had been lengthened, UST was granted a chance to equalize which they gladly seized in courtesy of Aj Pasion in the 94th minute.

“’Di namin ine-expect ‘yung ganung play. Nagkabutas sa gitna tsaka dapat foul ‘yun kaso napabayaan na (We were not expecting that play. A gap opened up in the middle, and it was supposed to be foul but we already let it go),” Saldivar lamented on the last-gasp equalizer which changed the complexion of the game.

On March 7 at the same venue, the FEU Tamaraws will seek a bounce back win as they face the National University Bulldogs.

-Hillary Dana D. Estacio
(See full album: UAAP 81 Men's Football - FEU vs UST)