Super sub Anoh’s late equalizer gives Green Booters a draw with Ateneo
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Booters wrapped up the first round of eliminations with a thrilling 1–1 draw against the Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo) Blue Eagles yesterday, March 17, at the University of the Philippines (UP) Football Pitch. Kofi Agyei found the opener in the eighth minute, while Isaac Anoh delivered the game-saving strike in the 84th.
Gabe Suarez kicked off the final match of the first round and the action quickly followed, with Ateneo earning a corner kick in the third minute following a swift clearance by star keeper Ico Mangaoang. La Salle’s attacking group eventually found their groove and began to apply the same pressure on the Blue Eagles starting with a corner earned by Christian Peñalosa in the eighth and a 1–2 chance from the pair of Carlos Lozano and Suarez. Even with DLSU’s newfound aggression, Ateneo successfully launched a counterattack where target man Agyei drew first blood right before the ten-minute mark.
Possession was evenly spread towards the middle of the half, with counterattacks and long through balls taking up most of the offensive plays. Paolo Go and Peñalosa were responsible for La Salle’s free kicks near their attacking third, with each attempt only missing the crossbar or sidepost by mere inches. As the halftime whistle ticked closer, the Green Booters only got more dangerous in their hounding of Ateneo’s defense.
Peñalosa linked up with Suarez in the 31st minute for a header inside the six-yard box but to no avail. In the 38th, Ico took a free kick from the center line to the Blue Eagles’ goal which resulted in another shot on target for DLSU. A chance free kick from captain Mo Almohjili would be La Salle’s last real opportunity before the halftime break as the Green Booters trailed 0–1 after 45.
La Salle opened the second period with the same pressing intensity they ended the first with, resulting in a near goal just eight minutes in with Suarez aiming his header toward Artuz Cezar’s far post. There was no shortage of top-class saves from Mangaoang, who was undoubtedly the Green Booters’ most valuable asset, even as the match passed well beyond the one-hour mark. Even with the referee’s watch nearing the full 90, La Salle’s frontline stayed relentless as Almohjili, Go, Peñalosa, and the freshly substituted Anoh kept Cezar on his toes.
With six minutes left in ordinary time, the substitute turned himself into Taft’s savior once again as he’d done throughout his whole collegiate career. Anoh was given the perfect through ball by Go just outside the penalty box and, with one perfectly placed shot, the Green Booters’ poacher sent an unreachable curler toward Cezar’s top left corner for a late equalizer. Seven minutes of added time weren’t enough for either side to secure all three coveted points as the Green Booters and Blue Eagles shared the flowers in a 1–1 draw.
The Green Booters will look to get more Ws in Round 2 of the tournament.
