THE ATENEO Men’s Football Team won their fifth straight game, 3-1, against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors on Sunday, February 19 at the FEU Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.
This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 5-0-0 record with a +14 goal difference in Season 79 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Football tournament.
Ateneo started the game with attacking vigor. Jarvey Gayoso won a free kick in the 2nd minute, but the UE defense headed the ball out. The Red Warriors had their first real chance at the 6th minute, but Blue Eagle keeper AJ Arcilla stopped it and got the ball.
The first goal of the game came in the 15th minute, courtesy of Enzo Ceniza. Jordan Jarvis fired a cross from the right that deflected off a UE defender. The ball landed straight at Ceniza’s feet and with great control, he calmly finished it with his right foot.
The Blue Eagles doubled their lead in the 29th minute, after an amazing sequence involving the strike partnership of the AMFT. Gayoso dribbled down the left and blew by his defender with a nutmeg and found Sam Lim, who scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
A mere nine minutes later, the Blue and White got their third of the match through a Jordan Jarvis header. Gayoso’s free kick flew inside the box and Jarvis dove to head the ball to the back of the net.
At halftime, Ateneo was up 3-0 courtesy of the goals by the three rookies. Coach Jay Pee Merida subbed out Ceniza, Gayoso, and Arcilla at the second half which opened the game up for UE. The Red Warriors held the possession and got into better attacking position, as the second half progressed, leading to a goal in the 71st minute by Opeña. The initial shot was deflected by the newly subbed in Kenn James, but the ball eventually landed at the feet of Opeña and he calmly smashed it to the back of the net.
The sole yellow card of the game came in the 84th minute, after Paolo Alilam was booked for diving. The Blue Eagles held on to the lead as the game ended, keeping their record spotless.
After the game, Coach Jay Pee Merida was impressed with the play of the team in the first half, but was also disappointed at the team at the second interval. “Maganda ang laro sa first half. Si Sam Lim nag-step up because he scored,” explained the head coach (The play of the team in the first half was nice. Sam Lim stepped up with a goal). “Sa second half, medyo disappointed ako sa mga subs. Hindi talaga nag-perform siguro kasi this was the first time nakalaro sila sa UAAP.” (I was disappointed with the substitutes in the second half. They were not able to perform most likely due to the fact that this was their first time playing in the UAAP).
The next match for the AMFT will be a rematch of last season’s finals against the University of the Philippines on Saturday, February 25, 6PM at the Rizal Memorial Football Field.
Starting XI:
Ateneo: Arcilla, Ceniza, Gayoso, Grierson, Haosen, Jarvis, Lim, Mathay, Poe, Rocha, Roxas
Substitutions: 45’ Baña on for Gayoso, 45’ James on for Arcilla, 56’ Dy on for Ceniza, 62’ Alilam on for Lim, 66’ Gaudiel on for Roxas, 72’ Nacional on for Mathay
Yellow Card: 84’ Alilam
The Blue Eagles extend their winning streak to 5-0-0, as they crush the Red Warriors at 3-1.
https://storify.com/TheGUIDONSports/uaap-season-79-men-s-football-ateneo-vs-ue
