THE ATENEO Blue Booters suffered their first loss of the season, 0-2, to archrivals De La Salle University on Sunday, February 3 at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field.
Two goals in the second half by the Taft-based squad subjected Ateneo to their first Season 75 loss in a very physical match. Despite La Salle’s goals, the Blue Booters had chances to get on the scoreboard themselves, but this time they weren’t able to pull themselves out of the ditch.
The Ateneo XI started off strong when Carlo Liay got a head on Enzo Bonoan’s indirect free kick in the 12th minute. However, La Salle skipper and Green Archers United goalkeeper Patrick Deyto was up to the task, saving what turned out to be a tame attempt.
La Salle managed to get its first significant attempt in the 30th minute, only for the shot to go over and wide, not threatening Yu Murayama’s goal.
Eight minutes later, Liay, who played center forward for the day, latched on to a dangerous cross, but his touch let him down as the ball trickled out.
As the referee blew the halftime whistle, both teams were still scoreless.
At the restart, Ateneo once again played the role of the aggressor. In the 54th minute, Toffee Sumulong found himself through on goal, but Deyto exhibited why he is touted as the league’s best keeper with a wonderful reflex save.
Immediately afterwards, a moment of controversy ensued when Emman Paredes latched onto the rebound and was seemingly felled. The boys in blue protested to the referee, who was not convinced.
On the hour mark, La Salle began a hopeful buildup play, ultimately finding Anton Celdran on the right wing. The former La Salle Green Hills standout then dummied Murayama and fed Gio Diamante with a simple tap-in, making it 1-0 to the Green and White.
However, Ateneo refused to lie down, and in the 64th minute got close to leveling the score. Armand Gozali controlled a pass, skipped past La Salle center back Greggy Yang, and went through on goal, but Deyto was there once again to save the shot.
In the 73rd minute, brothers Gio and Angelo Diamante linked up, with the latter feeding Don Rabaya, who snuck in behind the Ateneo backline and finished past Murayama. The Blue Booters were staring at a two-goal deficit for the first time this season.
As the final minutes ticked by, the Blue and White pushed hard to find that opening goal, while La Salle also prowled for the knockout blow. After two minutes of added time, though, the referee blew his whistle to signify the first three points the Blue Booters have dropped this season.
With the loss, La Salle overtakes Ateneo and takes the top spot. While both teams have accumulated 24 points, La Salle goes ahead of Ateneo by goal difference, 17 to six.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University (FEU) lost its matchup against the University of the Philippines (UP) later in the afternoon. Both teams are also at 22 points, but FEU takes the third spot due to goal difference, putting defending champs UP at fourth.
The Blue Booters will face NU for their final game of the elimination round on Wednesday, February 6 at the Ocampo Field.
