MANILA – A late goal from Joshua Mojede propelled the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to a 2-1 victory over De La Salle Zobel, earning the team a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ football semifinals on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Mojede, last season’s top midfielder, delivered the winning strike in the 78th minute with a determined run that sliced through the opposing defense. His goal came shortly after La Salle’s Renz Partosa leveled the match in the 73rd minute.
Earlier, Mojede helped put UST on the board by assisting Argos Alingalan’s goal in the 26th minute.
Assistant coach David Basa praised his squad’s grit in a closely contested match.
“It was a very competitive game. La Salle pushed us to our limits, especially towards the end. But the team stayed focused, created chances, and made them count,” Basa said.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining the same level of intensity heading into the next stage.
“I told the players to remember how this game felt—the energy, the duels, and the determination to win—and bring that into the Final Four. That mindset will give them confidence,” he added.
In other results, Far Eastern University-Diliman secured the No. 1 spot in the standings after beating PAREF Southridge School, 3-2.
FEU-D tops the table with 28 points, followed by UST with 26, while La Salle remains in third with 20 points.
Ateneo strengthened its semifinal hopes with a 2-0 win over Claret School of Quezon City, placing fourth with 16 points, just ahead of Southridge with 14.
On Saturday, Southridge will battle La Salle at 2 p.m., while Ateneo faces UST at 4:30 p.m. A Southridge defeat would seal Ateneo’s entry into the semifinals.
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