De La Salle University defeated Ateneo de Manila University 2-1 in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Field, thanks to a stoppage-time header from Rodrigo Del Rosario.
In the 90+8 minute, the Laguna native leaped highest to head the ball home and propelled the Green Booters over the final line. At the precise moment when it appeared that Ateneo might manage to rescue a tie, his header awarded La Salle all three points.
Following a handball by Green Booters winger Mikio Umilin, referee Meliton Pelayo pointed to the spot with the Blue Eagles down by one goal. In the 90+3 minute of the game, Leo Gabriel Maquiling went up and successfully converted the penalty, but the Blue Eagles ultimately failed to cling on for a point.
“They wanted to win. They never let up regardless of the time. They deserved the win. I give it all to the boys. I just give it all to the boys,” explained Hans-Peter Smit, the team’s head coach. “I mean maybe it helped a lot it was against Ateneo. That’s always an added boost for both teams. It just so happens it could have gone either way.”
Hans-Peter Smit continued, “This game could have gone either way. It just so happened na we had the better chance and we pounced on it so I give it to the boys.”
Isaac Anoh scored the opening goal for La Salle earlier in the game with a clinical finish in the 73rd minute.
In the second half, the game turned ugly.
As BJ Cordero fouled Umilin hard, tensions between the two teams erupted. Then there was a fight between the two groups.
In the 63rd minute, Cordero and Christian Pealosa were sent from the pitch for their involvement in the altercation.
After the first round, La Salle had three victories, two losses, and one draw, moving them up to third position with 10 points. In contrast, Ateneo lost two games and drew one, dropping them to fourth place with 10 points but a -1 goal differential.
“This should drive them more. This should give a morale boost to the players as individuals and as a team. Now they know they can handle it. All we need to do is to just hone up a few of our weaknesses and then let’s go on to the next game,” Smit added.
