FRESH OFF an 18-day break, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) returned to action in exciting fashion, routing the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 4-0, on Thursday, April 5, at the Rizal Memorial Football Field, Manila.
The victory brings the Blue Eagles to a 9-1-2 slate with a +20 goal difference. Ateneo remains second behind the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in Season 80 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Football tournament.
Jarvey Gayoso opened the match with a first half brace that brought his goal tally to 15 — one away from the record set by former Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Eric Giganto. Giganto recorded 16 goals in UAAP Season 77, when the tournament first expanded to an eight team field. Rupert Baña and Sam Lim bookended the match with a goal apiece.
The Blue Eagles were the more dominant side from the opening kick. The pacey strike force of Gayoso and Lim put pressure on the UE defense, leading to the opening goal in the 18th minute after Gayoso pounced on a keeper error from Red Warrior Frank Reiza.
In the 33rd minute, midfielder Julian Roxas nearly doubled the lead, skying for a header courtesy of Gayoso’s cross, but the ball was hit high. A minute before the halftime whistle, Gayoso broke free on the left wing and slotted home his second of the match with a calm finish.
45’ + 1 – GOAL! Gayoso breaks free on the left and doubles the lead with a composed near-post finish!
Ateneo 2 UE 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/IC2dyJhuk7
— Kirby G. Jalandoni (@Kirby_TheGUIDON) April 5, 2018
Ateneo did not relax despite the comfortable advantage. They continued to pile pressure on the Red Warrior backline after the break. Enzo Ceniza stepped up in the second half, dispatching defenders with ease and controlling the match from the middle.
In the 57th minute, Ceniza’s combination with wingback Michael Castillo sprung the midfielder free at the byline. He then dribbled his way into the box and fired a low cross that forced Reiza to dive forward. Rupert Baña was quickest to the loose ball and smashed it into the net for the third goal.
57’ – GOAL! Ceniza waltzes his way inside but the keeper gets a hand on his pass. Baña then pounces on the loose ball to triple the lead!
Ateneo 3 UE 0 #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/YNanYcuCl4
— Kirby G. Jalandoni (@Kirby_TheGUIDON) April 5, 2018
Three minutes later, Ceniza tried his luck from distance with a powerful attempt at the edge of the box, which was parried out by Reiza. This time, it was Lim who pounced on the rebound to score his first goal of the season.
The remainder of the match provided valuable playing time and experience for rookies Joaquin Roque and Jose Poe, who both saw out the match to help the Blue Eagles secure their seventh win in eight matches.
The Blue Eagles will next battle the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in their penultimate match of the elimination round on Sunday, April 15, 8:00 AM, at the Rizal Memorial Football Field, Manila.
Starting XI:
Ateneo: Arcilla (GK); Nacional, Dy, Rocha, Grierson, Castillo; Herrera, Roxas (c), Ceniza; Lim, Gayoso
Substitutions:
46’ – Baña on for Nacional
46’ – G. Poe on for Dy
59’ – Gaudiel on for Gayoso
64’ – James on for Arcilla
66’ – Haosen on for Roxas
75’ – Roque on for Castillo
81’ – J. Poe on for Lim
