SUITING UP against the defending champions University of the Philippines (UP) in Game 1 of their first UAAP Football finals appearance since 2008, the Ateneo Blue Booters played with heart and upset UP, 5-4, in a penalty shootout on Thursday, February 22 at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field.
Yu Murayama had an outing in the first game of the finals, a career high for the Booter, as he drilled in two goals—his last being the goal that clinched the Game 1 victory for the Blue and White.
UP and Ateneo played cautiously in the first 20 minutes of the match. Apart from Jacobo Lorenzo’s 14th minute shot that went wide, there was nothing much to separate the two teams. UP started the matches aggressively, but the Blue Booters barraged UP with their own attacks later in the half.
On the 30th minute, UP’s Daniel Gadia found himself some space in a tight angle, but he only managed to get his shot across the face of goal. However, it would not be the last time he gave Ateneo’s defense some problems.
Three minutes later, the former San Beda Red Cub received the ball and managed to get through the Ateneo backline, slotting the ball home past the clutches of keeper Nick O’Donnell. In the 43rd minute, Mike Simms tried to double UP’s lead, but saw his speculative shot cannon off the crossbar.
The halftime break provided the home team some respite, as the goal clearly broke Ateneo’s rhythm. Four minutes after the restart, Emman Paredes had Ateneo’s first chance, but his shot went well over.
Valentino Calvo picked up the pressure on the 64th minute when he outmuscled UP’s fullback, only to see his shot go wide.
In the 68th minute, some good buildup play by the Katipunan-based squad nearly leveled the scoring, but UP goalkeeper Caballes denied Carlo Liay.
The ensuing counterattack saw Gadia one-on-one with O’Donnell, but the Canadian-born shot-stopper clearly showed why he is touted as one of the country’s brightest prospects.
Seven minutes before the end of regulation, Toffee Sumulong received the ball on the left flank, beat the defender and unleashed a dangerous cross. On the receiving end was Yu Murayama, who powered it into the back of the net, giving Ateneo the much-needed equalizer, 1-1.
A moment of controversy occurred right before the fulltime whistle. Having picked up a booking, Jico Noel was sent off after committing an infraction against UP’s Gabe Mendoza. This error left the Blue and White with 10 men in the added 30 minutes.
Luckily for the Blue Booters, though, UP seemed to have emptied their tanks during regulation. However, Ateneo themselves also looked tired.
With 120 minutes insufficient to call a winner, a penalty shootout was in order–the second this Season 75 for Coach JP Merida and his boys.
After Reymark Fernandez sent O’Donnell the wrong way to make it 3-2 on penalties, Liay’s shot cannoned off the upright, dashing hopes of the Blue Booters taking game one. However, the referee called for a retake, as UP keeper Caballes had moved before the shot was taken. The Italian-born player then took the retake with ease, sending the keeper the other way.
UP’s Mendoza took the next penalty shoot, only to be denied by O’Donnell’s feet, giving Ateneo the chance to win. Murayama then set himself up and sent Caballes the wrong way to seize Game 1, 5-4.
With the win, the Blue Booters are one win away from winning the UAAP Football Championship. Game 2 will be at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 24, at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field.
