THE ATENEO Men’s Football Team remained undefeated in their 1-0 victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons on Sunday, February 26, at the Rizal Memorial Football Field in Manila.

The win puts the Blue Eagles at a 6-0-0 record with a +15 goal difference in Season 79 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Football tournament.

The Fighting Maroons dominated the game in the first half, as they controlled most of possession and had a bigger number of scoring opportunities. UP earned numerous free kicks and corners in the first half alone, while the Blue Eagles played more of a counter-attacking game due UP’s lion share of possession. Keeper AJ Arcilla of Ateneo was tested multiple times as the game progressed, but he was able to control the ball with various saves.

The first real chance came in the 6th minute for UP, after Daniel Gadia’s cross inside the box eventually found Sebastian Patangan, who riffled in a shot that deflected off an Ateneo defender. Eight minutes later, UP once again came close to scoring after Jose Clarino’s free kick was headed towards Marco Casambre inside the box, but his header was off right.

The physicality of the match was prevalent throughout the game, which led to multiple bookings. In the 18th and 19th minute, back-to-back yellow cards were shown to Ged Poe and Gadia, respectively, after their hard tackles. Jarvey Gayoso was booked in the 35th minute after a hard tackle of his own, warranting a one-game suspension as that was his second yellow this season. The fourth yellow card of the half was shown to Kintaro Miyagi, as he tripped Arcilla after the keeper got to the ball.

Kyle Magdato nearly scored for UP just before the halftime whistle sounded, but his close-range attempt sailed over the bar. The score was 0-0 at the half, but UP had better scoring opportunities compared to the Blue Eagles, who had limited chances.

Ateneo started the second half with inspired attacking play. They earned a corner in the first minute of the half, but the UP defense contained Gayoso’s corner kick. Four minutes later, Gayoso broke free with only a single defender to beat, but he was flagged for offside.

Gadia attempted an ambitious long shot a few yards away from the box in the 50th minute, but his attempt flew over the bar. Ateneo’s first real scoring chance came in the 58th minute, but Nathanael Villanueva deflected Gayoso’s left footed strike.

The Blue Eagles finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute with a goal. Gayoso faked a defender and set-up a cross from the left side, which forced UP Keeper Villanueva to jump out and deflect it. Enzo Ceniza pounced on the deflection and fired a right-footed strike that bounced off the left post before landing at the back of the net. Gayoso nearly doubled the lead a minute later after he broke free, but his shot went wide.

The last 20 minutes of the game featured some back-and-forth action by both squads as the intensity of the match ramped up. In the 84th minute, Gayoso broke free once again and raced down the field, but his cross was easily handled by Villanueva. A couple of minutes later, UP were in a dangerous area after Paolo Alilam’s tackle near the box earned them a free kick. Gadia’s attempt though was easily handled by Arcilla, and the Blue Eagles held on to their spotless record as the final whistle sounded.

After the game, goal-scorer Ceniza said that the adjustments by Coach Jaypee Merida and team talk during halftime propelled the team to a good second half. “[Captain Jayrah Rocha] told us that we are a team, and that we play for one another, play for the Ateneo, and we play for God. That’s what lifted us up,” Ceniza explained.

The next match for the AMFT will be against the second-placed Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Thursday, March 9, 4PM at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field, Quezon City.

Starting XIs:

Ateneo: Arcilla (GK), Ceniza, Gayoso, Grierson, Haosen, Jarvis, Lim, Mathay, Poe, Rocha (c) Roxas

UP: Casambre, Clarino Ju., Clarino Jo., Gadia (c), Magdato, Miyagi, Patangan, Rafanan, Saavedra, Sanciangco, Villanueva (GK)

Substitutions: 27’ Baña on for Lim, 82’ Liay on for Haosen, 86’ Alilam on for Baña

Yellow Card: 18’ Poe, 19’ Gadia, 35’ Gayoso, 42’ Miyagi

The Blue Eagles emerge victorious in their Season 78 finals rematch against UP, 1-0, through an Enzo Ceniza goal (70′)

https://storify.com/TheGUIDONSports/uaap-season-79-men-s-football-ateneo-vs-up