THE ATENEO Blue Eagles Men’s Football team dominated the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals with the scoreline of 4-0 on Saturday, August 15, at the Ocampo Football Field, Ateneo de Manila University.
Right from the beginning, the home team asserted their dominance over their rivals, holding onto the ball and keeping it in their attacking half. Masyu Yoshioka gave the Blue Eagles their first goal of the game, coming from an excellent counterattack initiated by a long lob from Mikko Mabanag. Yoshioka connected and sent the ball past the EAC keeper in the 23rd minute despite pleas from the Generals’ coaching staff for an offside call.
The Generals had a chance to equalize in the 28th minute after a foul just beyond their attacking box. A direct free kick went past the Atenean wall and almost slipped through the hands of the goalkeeper, who managed to corral it before anyone could shoot off the rebound.
Frustrated at almost allowing their opponents to score, the blue booters pushed the ball into the attacking third even more, taking several shots at the goal. Their persistence finally bore fruit as Rafi Lipardo headed home a corner shot in the 31st minute of action.
The home team’s momentum seemed to have been stopped in the 34th minute as the Ateneo’s Lui Clavano and EAC’s Mellex Andes found themselves in a scuffle, which led to a red card for the Blue Eagle and left the Ateneans with a man down. It was not enough, however, as Koko Gaudiel slotted in the third goal of the game after a passing exchange from his supporting teammates right at the end of the half.
The second phase of the match kept the same storyline as the first, with the Katipunan booters still dominating the pitch with their ball control while keeping the Generals in their own half even when they had possession. Yoshioka added another goal to his tally in the 57th minute, once again coming from a brilliant pass from the midfield.
Despite the dominance on the field, the Ateneans failed to add another point to their tally in the final half hour as they found themselves shooting high and wide. Tired legs may have had a hand in this, as their rivals used a total of six substitutes compared to the three switches made by the Blue and White; in the Ang Liga Cup, a preseason tournament, teams are allowed to have nine substitutions compared to the three usually allowed in UAAP matches.
This win puts the blue booters at 2-1-1 in the elimination round standings of the Ang Liga Cup.
Updated 11:38, August 16, 2015.
