“Malas.”

This was the adjective used by head coach Jay-Pee Merida in his post-game message to sum up a heartbreaking 0-1 loss for the Blue Booters against UP last February 5 at the Ateneo High School football field.

Despite an impressive team effort by Ateneo, the Fighting Maroons clinched victory when veteran midfielder Nii Ayi scored once again via a penalty kick awarded to UP in the last five minutes of the match. Ayi’s shot zipped past Ateneo keeper Yu Murayama to the lower right corner of the goal and kissed the net.

Prior to the game-changing call, the match appeared to be ending in a scoreless draw as both teams were evenly matched.

The first half was dominated by the Blue Booters, who were on attack mode right at the opening whistle. Rookie Mico Clavano attempted first for Ateneo in the eighth minute, but the UP defense deflected the shot. Later, another rookie, Mikko Mabanag, attacked from the right wing and sent a pass to Anton Amistoso for the shot. Amistoso’s shot was deflected by UP second keeper Mark Custodio, but Clavano was there for a follow-up, which was off-target. More shots by Francis Mendoza, Miguel Tuazon, Mabanag and Amistoso did not find their mark.

In the second half, UP returned with momentum on its side and tested the Ateneo defense. The state university had three clean attempts in three minutes caught by Murayama, who continued to impress as keeper. Ayi, Jay Eusebio and Jinggoy Valmayor led more charges that were denied entry by Ateneo, whose strong defensive play held off the Maroons.

The Loyola Squad responded with more attempts, but once again lacked the finishing strikes. At the 75th minute, possessions seesawed between Ateneo and UP, as both teams continued to mount attempts to score and played good defense.

The tables turned near the 81st minute, when UP’s Juan Miguel Roy was attacking from the left wing. Rookie center back Cocoy Marcelino approached to clear the ball, butRoyappeared to trip. From the other side of the pitch, the referee ran up to Marcelino and gave him a yellow card and awarded a penalty kick to UP.

Marcelino was shocked—he insisted he did not touch Roy, but the call had already been made. As Ayi prepared to take the penalty shot that gave the Maroons the win, a grinningRoywalked back to his position at the UP half. When the two teams shook hands after the match, Roy approached Marcelino and told the latter that he was surprised with the call as well.

Once again, Valmayor, the Season 73 rookie of the year, was scoreless for the Maroons. The determining factor in the match proved to be Ayi, who had the most attempts to score. With his height, skill and speed, Ayi has proven to be a formidable midfielder in the UAAP. In the first round, it was Ayi who put the nail in the coffin for Ateneo when he also scored on a penalty kick.

This loss adds pressure to an Ateneo football squad vying for a position in the final four. Furthermore, since La Salle defeated FEU in the earlier match, the Taft-based squad is pulled up to fourth and Ateneo drops to fifth.

The Blue Booters next face the UE Red Warriors on Thursday, February 9, 10:00 AM at the Ocampo Field.