The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Booters closed the first round of the UAAP Season 87 boys’ football tournament with a loss against the Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws, 1-2, on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the University of the Philippines Football Pitch.

Rookie Kurbe Dairo was the lone scorer for the España-based squad in the 93rd minute of the game after coming on as a sub in the 66th minute.

“Nag- fight yung boys, medyo kinapos lang siguro dahil may mga choices kami na kailangan i- improve,” UST assistant coach David Basa told TomasinoWeb.

The Junior Golden Booters opened the first half with the possession. However, it was FEU-D’s Jerriemy Biton who found the back of the net in the 5th minute, 1-0.

UST saw chances to equalize, first in the 6th minute with a through ball that was ruled offside, and then through a second-touch shot in the 10th minute that went over the post.

While the Junior Golden Booters misfired and squandered multiple chances throughout the first half, the Baby Tamaraws doubled their lead in the 24th minute off the cleats of Francis Sambaan to bring it to 2-0.

UST forward Nathan Absalon had a chance in the 54th minute after his teammate River Solis fished out FEU-D goalee Gianne Abara out of the keeper’s box, but failed to put the ball to score their supposed first goal.

Down two players with JM Visitacion going out with an injury in the 87th minute and Absalon suffering with cramps in the 93rd minute after the goal from Dairo proved to be hard for the España-based squad to overcome and score an equalizer as FEU-D held on for the win, 1-2.

“Corrections, lalo na sa mga mistakes [ng team],” Basa said on what could be adjusted for the team for the upcoming second round.

“Gagawin namin itong game na lesson para sa next round para mag- improve ‘yung boys game by game,” he added.

The Junior Golden Booters now stand with a 3-1-1 win-draw-loss record to end the first round as the second-ranked team with 10 points.

The schedule for the second round of games is yet to be released by the UAAP.