By Joshua Kyle Beltran
Following two straight losses, Far Eastern University (FEU) lead tactician Vince Santos reinforced the Tamaraw Booters’ support for one another despite drawing against title rivals University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 2-2, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s football tourney earlier tonight, October 18, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch in Quezon City.
“We’ve rotated our lineup, giving everyone a chance, so the attitude we have is: whoever gets an opportunity is supported by the rest of the team. Everybody earns their time on the pitch… We work together,” he said in a post-game interview.
FEU opened the game with pinpoint passing, creating multiple chances upfront, but UP quickly answered back with a free kick courtesy of Joses Azur in the 13th minute, 0-1.
Seeking to avoid another scoreless first half, Mc Jay Neniel threaded past the Diliman-based squad’s backline for an equalizer at the 23-minute mark, 1-1.
Six minutes later, midfielder Stephen Soria doubled the tally for FEU, 2-1.
Despite UP creating chances of their own through set pieces, green-and-gold keeper Quintin Sanchez denied all of the Fighting Maroons’ subsequent attempts to maintain their lead into halftime.
Seemingly comfortable with a one-goal lead, the Tamaraw Booters controlled possession for most of the second half.
However, an unexpected corner kick from maroon-and-white booter Cian Galsim in the 62nd minute caught the Morayta-based team off guard, leaving both squads at a stalemate, 2-2.
Only just getting their minutes in, Karl Absalon and Theo Libarnes doubled their efforts to convert one of their many one-two attempts upfront, but none found the back of the net.
Even with seven minutes of stoppage time, both teams eventually remained at the bottleneck.
Still, Santos expressed disappointment with the way the pace of the game changed.
“I just feel that we let ourselves down, with the way we conceded our goals. Error, na-build up, giving away a corner goal… We had enough minutes in the second half… and we didn’t take advantage of that opportunity,” the head coach said.
Yet to find their next dub at a 1-1-2 win-draw-loss card, the green-and-gold squad will face University of Santo Tomas on Thursday, October 22, at the same venue.
(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)