The University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Booters advanced to the finals after eliminating the De La Salle - Zobel Junior Green Booters, 2-1, in the semifinals of the UAAP Season 87 juniors’ football tournament on Saturday, March 22, at the University of the Philippines football field

The Espana-based squad will face the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws for the second straight time, and will be gunning for a revenge of last season’s 0-3 championship loss.

The first half saw both teams exchange possessions hoping for early chances, but most attempts were thwarted by the defensive presence of both teams.

Yuan Maniscan and Lance Locsin each had their attempts for UST at a direct goal after taking shots from outside the penalty box, but the ball flew over the goalpost for both shots.

UST rookie Argos Alingalan was then pushed just outside the penalty box in the 41st minute. Josh Moleje lined up to take up the free kick but his shot was then cleared by the DLS-Z defense.

Maniscan had another chance inside the box in the 43rd minute but a controversial non-penalty call resulted in Maniscan getting booked with a yellow card instead.

Joshua Balliner scored the opening goal of the match in the 68th minute as a long pass from Edcel Lauron off a counterattack forced DLS-Z to commit a defensive mishap that Balliner exploited to put the ball to the back of the net.

UST substitute Nathan Absalon dribbled past the Zobel defense and passed the ball to Maniscan, whose shot was deflected by the DLS-Z keeper. Balliner rebounded the loose ball and passed it to the cleats of Argos Alingalan who put the ball at the back of the net in the 77th minute.

Justine Concepcion scored the Junior Green Booters’ first goal in the 80th minute after heading the ball into the right side of Lauron, which caused the ball to roll over and cross the goal line, 2-1.

The Junior Golden Booters had a chance to put the game away but the Muntinlupa-based squad was able to defend the UST attacks, and vice-versa.

UST equally held off the goal-yearning Junior Green Booters, to successfully advance to the finals.

“Proud ako sa boys kasi napansin namin na medyo, dahil semifinals [na], under pressure ‘yung mga players pero nag-workthrough sila, pi-nush nila sarili nila [at] ‘yung teammates nila na mapanalo ‘yung game,” assistant coach David Basa said.

The España-based squad will play in the finals on March 29, in the same venue.