MANILA, Philippines – The UP men's football team 16-game unbeaten streak comes to an end, suffering a 1-2 defeat at the hands of DLSU at the FEU Diliman Football Field on Thursday.
After going without a loss in 16 outings since last season, the defending champions now seem vulnerable.
Rookie striker Shanden Vergara pulled DLSU ahead in the 36th minute with a goal coming off a free kick.
The Taft-based booters were ahead at halftime, 1-0.
Come the second half, it was Vergara again with a stunning long goal from outside the penalty box in the 65th minute to put the Maroons in a 0-2 hole.
But it seemed too early to celebrate for DLSU as Kyle Magdato took one back for the defending champions mere seconds after Vergara's second goal.
Still trailing 1-2, the Fighting Maroons stepped on the gas pedal on offense.
But DLSU’s defense proved too much as time slowly slipped away from the Diliman-based squad.
Things, meanwhile, got chippy late in the match as players became too aggressive. A flurry of yellow cards were handed out to both squads.
Owing to excellent goal keeping and the advantage of the clock, DLSU was able to hold on to the lead and hand UP their first loss of the season.