THE ATENEO Men’s Football Team continued their unbeaten run in style with a 7-1 win versus Adamson University (AdU) Falcons on Saturday, April 1 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The win puts the Blue Eagles at a 9-2-0 record with a +23 goal difference in Season 79 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Football tournament.
Ateneo wasted no time in getting their first goal. In the opening seconds of the match, Jordan Jarvis played a through ball to Christian Castillo to the right of the box, who then returned the favor by laying off back to Jarvis for a first-time finish inside the box. Five minutes later, Koko Gaudiel was found in a similar position but the shot was scuffed. The attacking midfielder then earned a free kick three minutes after being fouled by Kim Baradaje, who earned a yellow for his dangerous tackle.
In the 33rd minute, Mark Nacional curved a pinpoint pass to Jarvey Gayoso inside the box, but the striker’s volley was off-wide. The Blue Eagles’ second goal of the match came seven minutes later, from the same duo. Castillo again fired a cross from the right that found Jarvis open by the far post. The midfielder then tapped the ball inside goal to double the lead. Ateneo had two great chances wasted in the 41st and 44th minute, after Gayoso and Gaudiel, respectively, were both found in dangerous scoring areas, but neither could convert. Gayoso was able to redeem himself right before the half ended, after Castillo’s cross from the right yet again found a player open, and this time the sophomore striker was the recipient for the easy tap-in.
The Blue Eagles found themselves up 3-0 at the halftime mark, and showed no signs of slowing down. In the 57th minute, Gaudiel dribbled past the Adamson defense and laid it off to Gayoso inside the box, but the shot unluckily hit the bar.
The Falcons prevented a clean sheet in the 65th minute, after Ejike Ugwoke smashed the ball in after some defensive miscommunication by Ateneo. Eight minutes later, the Blue Eagles ended any hopes of an AdU comeback after Jarvis completed his hat trick. Gayoso played a ball inside the box to a streaking Jarvis who then prodded the defense before clinically finishing with his left foot.
The last 10 minutes of the match was when the game went out of hand for the Falcons. In the 80th minute, Rupert Baña passed the ball to Gayoso at the corner of the box. The keeper raced out of the goal to get to the ball, but his charge proved too be late as the striker easily shot the ball around him en route to the fifth goal for the Katipunan-based squad. Baña then got to the scoresheet three minutes later, after Castillo fired another accurate cross to the forward. Baña added to the colossal lead with a clinical first-time finish.
In the 87th minute, Castillo finally tallied a goal after assisting in four of the six that Ateneo scored. Mathay sent a cross inside the box, and Castillo’s header was no match for the keeper. The Blue Eagles held on to win in the most lopsided match of the season.
After the match, Coach JayPee Merida was elated with how the team played. “Sa past three games namin, hindi namin ma-finish yung chances sa final third. We focused talaga on the attacking side (In our past three games, we could finish our chances in the final third. We really focused on the attacking side.),” he explained.
He was also impressed with the performances of Jarvis, who scored three goals in his first game this season playing in the midfield. “I’m happy with the adjustment of Jordan. Unbelievable talaga yung laro niya sa gitna,” Merida said. “Yung mentality and ability niya every time the ball is in the flanks. Nandun palagi siya to receive crosses.”
Ateneo’s next match will be against the University of the East Red Warriors on Thursday, April 6, 4PM at the Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo de Manila University.
Starting XIs:
Ateneo: Arcilla (GK), Castillo, Gaudiel, Gayoso, Grierson, Jarvis, Lim, Lipardo, Nacional, Rocha, Roxas
AdU: Bardaje, De Guzman, Dela Cruz, Jumo I., Jumo Ii., Martin, Pilarca, Rabino, Ramos Jac., Ramos Jam., Viray (GK)
Substituions:
Ateneo: 53′ Tanchuan on for Grierson, 57’ James on for Arcilla, 61′ Mathay on for Nacional, 67′ Baña on for Lim, 70′ Haosen on for Gaudiel, 78′ Ceniza on for Roxas,
AdU: 55′ Ugwoke on for Bardaje, 67’ Magpusao on for Dela Cruz, 85′ Ramos on for Almacén, 86′ Etis on for De Guzman
Yellow Cards: 8’ Bardaje, 48’ Castillo
Castillo led the way with four assists and a goal, while Jarvis scored ahat trick in Ateneo’s rout of Adamson.
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