Green Booters Team 1 subdue UB, take second win
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Booters Team 1 subdued the University of Batangas (UB) Brahmans, 4–1, earlier today at the University of the Philippines (UP) Football Pitch. With this victory, the defending champions take their second win in the Ang Liga preseason tournament.
Isaac Anoh was named Man of the Match after scoring a hat-trick and one assist.
At the start of the first half, both teams were aggressive on the ball. La Salle proved to be more aggressive on offense as within the first seven minutes of the game, two corners were awarded to the Green and White. Both plays, however, would amount to the Brahmans clearing the ball. It was in the 9th minute when Anoh gave the Green Booters a 1–0 advantage from a curling goal. UB in turn upped their intensity on every ball possession. A direct shot to goal from the Brahmans looked to even the score during the 12th minute but it would land just outside the box.
Despite the multiple chances the Brahmans got in the next few sequences, La Salle’s defense held steady in keeping the former’s attacks in check. However, the Green Booters' lead would then be diminished during the 34th minute when the Brahmans’ Captain, Josen Bañez made good on a forward pass from Zander Teves, 1–1.
From that point forward, the Taft-based team was determined to shift momentum to their side from multiple chances on corner kicks that would either be wide or deflected by UB defenders. Then in the 42nd minute, Anoh went one-on-one with the Brahmans’ Goalie France Yaon before shooting a direct goal inside the box, 2–1, giving La Salle the lead once again. Paolo Go attempted to extend this lead to two soon after but the attempt was caught by Yaon that time.
The final action of the half came in the form of Anoh passing the ball to an open Gabe Suarez who lodged the ball in the center of the box during the last minute of stoppage time just before the first half ended. La Salle closed out the half with a 3–1 advantage.
As soon as the whistle blew for the start of the second half, the Green Booters controlled the pace of the game on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field. A foul on Anoh gave DLSU a free kick but Jeff Tolimao’s kick hit the crossbar and sailed out. The Brahmans were also more aggressive on the ball during this half but La Salle was in turn just as relentless in clearing the former’s goal attempts.
In the 49th minute, Anoh secured his hat trick after shooting a Golazo, widening the separation from the Batangas City-based team, 4–1. From there, La Salle continued to exert dominance as they held possession of the ball for the majority of the second half. A couple of corner kicks and direct shots to the goal by the Green and White looked to further widen the gap but UB’s defense made sure to clear the ball.
Simultaneous with the actions of the half, the rain continued to pour and grow strong, which later led the referees to call for a rain delay as the field became slippier. This delay would last for 20 minutes before play resumed. Following this, both teams aimed to score once again within the last ten minutes of regulation. DLSU had almost scored two more goals during this period but both attempts were wide. The Brahmans attempted to score goals of their own but the Green Booters deflected each attempt. Soon, the end of regulation was called, awarding La Salle their second win in the tournament, 4–1.
The Green Booters Team 1 aim to extend their winning streak against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals on September 9, 2 PM at the same venue.
