THE ATENEO Blue Eagles stunned the University of the Philippines (UP) in their opening game, 1-0, yesterday, February 23, at the UP Football Stadium in Diliman. The exhilarating win puts the Blue Eagles at 1-0 win-loss record to begin the elimination round of Season 85 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Men’s Football tournament.
Both teams looked to find an early lead as the Katipunan-based squads traded counter attacks just 20 minutes after kick-off.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
7’ – Salud gets the crucial stop on UP’s counter-attack!
Ateneo: 0 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/wBdxjZwMvk
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
19’ – UP gets the stop on Agyei’s counterattack.
Ateneo: 0 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/ElO75k0UZy
At the 22th minute of the match, Leo Maquiling whipped a clean cross from the left side of the field and found Wilmer Lopez to finish past UP’s defenders for the game’s lone goal. Ateneo took the lead, 1-0.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
22’ – GOAL! W. Lopez scores off the assist from Agyei!
Ateneo: 1 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/ylXghlwTtr
From there, Ateneo settled into a more defensive formation as the Blue Eagles tried to halt UP from gaining any momentum. A big save by Ateneo’s goalkeeper Artuz Cezar at the 33rd minute kept them ahead of the Fighting Maroons who were dominating offensive possession, intending to even the score.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
33’ – Cezar with the big save off the free kick.
Ateneo: 1 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/OBj2qTmzfP
In the final minutes of the first half, striker Kofi Agyei broke through the UP defense for another counter, only to be saved by the fingertips of the Maroon goalkeeper. The first half ended with the Blue Eagles leading by a single goal.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
40’ – Agyei’s shot just briefly brushes on the UP goalkeeper’s fingers for the stop!
Ateneo: 1 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/KamF1dxGBx
The AMFT showcased their defensive prowess more during the second half as UP’s aggressive tactics and set pieces were no match for Ateneo’s wall of defenders from the back. Jet Dela Cruz and Jose Lopez came up big with clean and vital tackles inside the penalty box that halted UP star-forward Francis Tacardon to score.
The Blue Eagles also made the most out of their bench with several of the starting 11 players unable to carry on due to cramps. Nonetheless, the Fighting Maroons still struggled to penetrate inside courtesy of the stifling defense by the boys in blue. Coach JP Merida’s squad lined five defensive players in front of Artuz Cezar, giving him more than enough men to contest UP’s chances at goal.
[Second Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
69’ – Ateneo stops the free kick!
Ateneo: 1 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/YVw0gy6nPU
[Second Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) February 23, 2023
81’- Cezar gets the crucial stop!
Ateneo: 1 UP: 0#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/mZrqrZPbwT
After 11 grueling minutes of extra time, the whistle sounded as Ateneo escaped the Fighting Maroons at the latter’s home field.
Goalkeeper Cezar lauded his teammates’ poise for holding the defensive line during the second half despite the game delays due to injuries. “We’re happy walang na-concede [na point], and na-hold namin yung line. (We’re happy nobody conceded [a point] and we were able to hold the line,” said Cezar
The AMFT’s next opponent will be the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Sunday, February 26 at 2:00 PM in the UP Football Stadium.
