THE SECOND round battle of blue and green saw the Blue Eagles snag their first draw of the campaign at 0-0 in a fierce encounter with De La Salle University (DLSU) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Men’s Football tournament on Sunday, March 11, at the FEU-FERN Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.
The Blue Eagles currently hold a 6-1-2 win-loss-draw record and surrender the top spot to the University of the Philippines’ (UP), who move two points ahead of Ateneo with a game in hand. Meanwhile, the point earned keeps DLSU within striking distance at third seed.
The Blue Eagles were the more dangerous side from kick-off. The tandem of Jarvey Gayoso and Sam Lim joined forces with Enzo Ceniza at the head of the pack, creating chances and prodding the DLSU backline. The first clear-cut chance of the match came in the 28th minute, after Carlitos Mathay was taken down at the edge of the box. The ensuing Gayoso free kick set up a header for Jayrah Rocha by the far post, which flew unluckily off-target.
28’ – Close! Rocha rises to meet Gayoso’s free-kick but directs his header just wide!
Ateneo 0 DLSU 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/nSLtLEfeLK
— Joaquin A. Santos (@Joax_TheGUIDON) March 11, 2018
A pair of incredible saves by DLSU keeper Raphael De Guzman kept the match level. The first save, at the 50th minute, was a deft block of Gayoso’s strike in a one-on-one situation.
50’ – Huge chance for Ateneo! Gayoso pounces on a loose ball and shoots, but De Guzman pulls of a fanstastic save to deny him! Gayoso whips the rebound across goal!
Ateneo 0 DLSU 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/kuBkiee9dp
— Joaquin A. Santos (@Joax_TheGUIDON) March 11, 2018
The second one came three minutes later, denying Lim his first goal of the season with a timely dive.
53’ – Another incredible save by De Guzman! Baña picks out Lim with a pinpoint ball, but De Guzman’s timely dive denies the opener!
Ateneo 0 DLSU 0 #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/DDoaPlQend
— Joaquin A. Santos (@Joax_TheGUIDON) March 11, 2018
The Green Archers solidified their defense as the match progressed and limited the Blue Eagles in the attacking third. The final chance for the Blue Eagles came in the 89th minute, but Jimi Haosen’s header drifted wide to seal the goalless draw.
“It was a tough game. I thought both teams played well,” said Head Coach Jaypee Merida after the hotly-contested affair. “I’m still happy we earned one point, but of course, I’m frustrated kasi ang daming opportunities na hindi lang natin na-convert (We had a lot of good opportunities that we just failed to convert).”
The Blue Eagles have a chance to return to winning ways and extend their unbeaten run to six matches against the University of the East (UE) on Thursday, March 15, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.
Starting XIs:
Ateneo: Arcilla (GK); Grierson, Rocha, G. Poe; Nacional, Herrera, Ceniza, Roxas, Mathay; Gayoso, Lim
DLSU: De Guzman; Fernandez, Brago, Villacin, Alcantara; Garcia, Perez, Cruel, Koizumi; Custodio, Zubiri
Substitutions:
46’ – Bana on for Nacional
59’ – Haosen on for Lim
83’ – Gaudiel on for Ceniza
88’ – Dy on for Roxas
