Just when they hoped to turn things around, the Blue Booters suffered a 1-0 loss in their contest against the UE Red Warriors on Sunday, February 6, at the Erenchun field.

In contrast to their first round draw against the Sampaloc-based team, the Ateneans’ loss was clouded with frustration and errors against a team that they could have beaten for their first win of the season.

At the beginning of the bout, UE quickly attempted to seize control of the game, looking to score with their early attacks from the wings. The defense by Mario Marcelo, Miguel Tuazon, Enzo Bonoan and Tom Cruel in the back line seemed to be able to hold the Red Warriors at bay. Ateneo struggled to get possession of the rock as the aggressive offense by their UE counterparts kept the Ateneans camped at their half, unable to obtain or maintain possession of the ball for a fluid offensive transition.

Meanwhile, the Katipunan offense was botched with delayed passes, numerous back passes, and miscommunication. Gab Siojo was not fast enough on the offensive end, making it easy for the faster players in red to deny him any decent attempts to score. Two free kicks by Siojo were denied and caught by UE keeper, Robert Mantos―arguably the second best keeper this season.

Horror struck the Blue Booters when an unthinkable miscommunication lapse on the defensive end led to a UE goal. The ball was lobbed up into the air from a UE kick ,prompting Ateneo keeper Joel Faustino, to come out and claim the loose rock. The mishap occurred at the 17^th minute when veteran defender Miguel Tuazon rose up and headed the ball, which to everyone’s horror, went towards the center leaving the goal wide open for Gringo Bravo, UE’s resident U-19 offensive specialist, to send the shot straight through gates to make it 1-0.

Ateneo’s sole colorful offensive attempt in the first half featured an impressive passing relay from Emman Paredes to wingman Keith King, who pinpointed it to Captain Luigi Meer near the left corner. Meer sent a clean kick flying towards the UE goal which sadly ricocheted like a pinball from the crossbar to the left before Mantos scooped it up and cleaned up the mess.

The second half added up to the Blue Booters’ frustrations. Their offense, rallied by Captain Meer, tried to kick things into high gear as they tried to score to bring Ateneo back to the game. Meer chased down a volley kick to the corner of the UE goal and attempted to score, which unfortunately went out of bounds.

He would have two more of his attempts denied by UE’s defenders. On the one hand, Paredes had two crosses and an attempt from the middle which was deflected by the Red Warriors’ back line. Another attempt from King that made near the center of UE’s penalty box was easily cradled by Mantos.

The Booters errors kept piling up in both the offensive and defensive end. Players were late to get to their spots and passes were delayed. Frustration started to settle in; some players were even observed to have shouted at each other in frustration. Their focus was absent and they suffered greatly for it with their fifth loss of the season.

After the final whistle, the Blue Booters could only stare at the ground and shake their heads in disdain as their remaining hopes of the season somehow seem to be fading away.

Adding to the disappointment, tensions increased when Meer fell to the ground while still in play. Blue and red shirts tried to gain possession of the ball near Meer then suddenly a Red Warrior supposedly stepped on Meer’s head as he lay on the ground. A few shoves were exchanged as a result of the distaste by a few Booters and the officials had to separate the both squads.

The Loyola Heights-based squad also missed the presence of veterans Anton Amistoso, Francis Mendoza and Jacobo Lorenzo. Mendoza and Lorenzo are serving suspensions for two yellow cards a piece and Amistoso sat out because of his injuries.

With three games remaining for the season against DLSU, UST and FEU, the Blue Booters sit at the bottom, still winless with their 0-5-2 record.

Team Ateneo has a week off to find renewed spirit and vigor before they clash once again with archrival DLSU for a pre-Valentine’s match up on Sunday, February 13, at the Erenchun Field.