FINISHING THE season on a high note may just have faded away for the Blue Booters, who lost their second round match up against the FEU Tamaraws, 2-0, last Thursday, February 17, at the Erenchun field.
In their second to the last game of the 73rd UAAP Football Season, the Loyola squad found themselves in their lowest point in a season marred with defeat and frustration.
FEU’s 2-0 victory over the Katipuneros made their previous 1-1 draw in the first round look like a fluke brought about by the muddy conditions.
Right from kick-off, the Blue Booters played poorly; their passes were sloppy and struggled to control possession throughout the game. Offensively, they were disorganized, enabling the FEU side to deny any offensive attempts.
The Ateneo defense was porous and unable to stop the FEU offensive machine. The players in green and gold proved to be faster than the players in blue and white, who played with much indecisiveness and hesitation—Ateneo’s defensive performance may have been the worst we have seen this season.
FEU scored their first goal midway through the first half as a result of an error between Ateneo keeper, Joel Faustino and center back, Mario Marcelo. An FEU Tamaraw slipped through the defense leaving behind Marcelo, who rushed for the defensive block. Simultaneously, Faustino approached to seize the ball, but the FEU striker broke free from the miscommunication between the two Booters and easily sent the ball home.
To Ateneo’s horror, FEU’s second goal five minutes into the second half was exactly the same as the first—another instance of miscommunication between goalie and player.
Ateneo desperately tried to get on the boards, with countless Hail Mary runs to the FEU side, but shots by Francis Mendoza, Keith King, Gab Siojo, Luigi Meer, and rookie, Emman Paredes were denied entry.
It was clear, this match showed that the Blue Booters were running on empty desire and fight. As the curtains of the season draw to a close, nobody but the Blue Booters themselves know the answer to their misfortunes.
The Ateneo Blue Booters wrap up UAAP Football Season 73 against the UST Growling Tigers on Sunday (10AM) at Erenchun field.
