THE BLUE Eagles’ winless start to Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Football Tournament was extended to three matches after falling, 1-2, to the University of the Philippines (UP) on Sunday, March 3 at the Far Eastern University (FEU)- Diliman football pitch.

Goals from Fighting Maroons Daniel Saavedra and Kintaro Miyagi put UP out of reach despite a late Ateneo spark from Rupert Baña. Following today’s defeat, the championship-hopeful Blue Eagles drop to the bottom of the standings with a 0-1-2 record. Meanwhile, title-holders UP stay unblemished at the top after their second win in two matches.

The Blue and White got off to an encouraging start, going toe-to-toe with UP in the early parts of the first half, but stout defending from both sides kept the game in balance. Joaquin Roque’s crucial clearance snatched away a golden chance for the opposition in the 21st minute, while in the 32nd minute, the UP backline snuffed out Niño Herrera’s clever pass to release Team Captain Julian Roxas.

Drama ensued in the 39th minute when UP midfielder Christian Lapas was sent off following his second yellow card for striking an opponent away from play, but Ateneo failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage before the end of the half. In the 42nd minute, a penalty was awarded to UP after Jacob Liao was called for handball in the box. Saavedra fired past goalkeeper AJ Arcilla and earned a much-needed cushion for his side.

Miyagi soon doubled the Fighting Maroons’ advantage, pouncing on a defensive lapse from the Blue Eagles just three minutes after the restart. Effective substitutions from Head Coach Jaypee Merida played key roles as Ateneo grew more assertive in the match. Baña emerged as the Blue Eagle’s main attacking outlet, bombing forward to put pressure on a stretched UP defense. The veteran forward broke the game open in the 79th minute, slotting home after a scramble in the penalty box.

Baña had another chance to pull Ateneo level with a free-kick in the 84th but blasted over the bar. The Blue Eagles threw men forward in search of a crucial equalizer, but the Fighting Maroons used their experience to see the match out safely and come away with all three points.

The Ateneo Men’s Football Team will hope to notch their first victory of the season on Thursday, March 7, in FEU Diliman, against the University of Santo Tomas – their first meeting with the Growling Tigers since last year’s semi-final defeat.

Ateneo Starting XI: Arcilla (GK); Poe, Liao, Rocha, Roque; Mercado, Herrera, Roxas ( c ),  Alleje; Setters, Gayoso

UP Starting XI: Yared (GK); Magdato, Sanciangco, Clarino, Abraham; Facturanan, Lapas, Bugayong, Saavedra; Borlongan, Miyagi ( c )

Substitutions:

52’ – Mark Nacional on for Setters

61’ – Andoni Maniquis on for Liao

63’ – Rupert Baña on for Alleje