THE ATENEO Blue Eagles secure the top seed of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Football Tournament with a draw against the De La Salle University Green Booters, 1-1 in the final elimination round match. The match was held earlier today at the University of the Philippines Diliman Football Pitch.
Following the tied game, both Ateneo and DLSU have a record of six wins, three draws and three losses, however Ateneo edged out their archrivals for the top spot through their advantage in goal difference.
The Ateneo Men’s Football Team rested most of their usual starting eleven players, most notably Leo Maquiling and defenders Jet Dela Cruz and Jose Lopez. The coaching staff of the Blue Eagles instead decided to field their younger players to begin the match.
Ateneo struck first in the game after a corner from Fernando Roxas found Lorenzo Lucindo’s head to put one past the Green Booters in the 16th minute of the first half. This was Lucindo’s first goal of the season as well as his first start for the Blue Eagles who led 1-0 after the first 20 minutes.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) May 4, 2023
16‘ – GOAL! Lorenzo Lucindo soars over La Salle’s defenses to connect with a header off a corner kick!
Ateneo: 1 DLSU: 0@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/3b5Jg4xbu1
Not long after, the Green Booters scored the equalizer at the 25th minute, as a freekick set piece found De La Salle’s Del Rosario in the box to head in DLSU’s first goal. Parity was restored and Ateneo’s lead vanished with DLSU leveling the score at 1-1.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) May 4, 2023
25‘ – La Salle swiftly fires back as Stephen Del Rosario lands his own header off an Almohjili free kick.
Ateneo: 1 DLSU: 1@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/xNi30M9xpq
La Salle once again found Del Rosario at the 29th minute—however, Ateneo’s star goalkeeper, Artuz Cezar, made sure not to concede a second goal in the first 35 minutes. DLSU continued their relentless offensive start with multiple chances, but the Blue and White were able to contain their rivals to just the one goal after the first half of play, 1-1.
[First Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) May 4, 2023
29‘ – La Salle attempts another attack, but Cezar saves it at the last moment.
Ateneo: 1 DLSU: 1@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/Zi34F9UrVu
The start of the second half mimicked the first 45 minutes as fast-paced action saw both teams fight for the lead. Cezar was once again called into action, saving a shot to keep Ateneo level with DLSU after an hour of play.
[Second Half]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) May 4, 2023
59’ – Ateneo’s defense continues to stifle La Salle’s attack as two more attempts from the Green Booters fail to find the net.
Ateneo: 1 DLSU: 1@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/1YhNd5ScdR
Defensive stops from the Blue Eagles continued as tackles from wing backs Bernardo Closa and Kristian Cordero kept DLSU scoreless in the second half. Ateneo focused more on stopping the Green Booters from scoring as a draw meant the Blue and White would take the first seed in the Final Four matchup.
The drama subsided by the end of the 90 minutes, as Ateneo succeeded in preventing La Salle from scoring, settling for a draw, 1-1.
After the game, goalscorer Lucindo was asked about his experience scoring for the first time. “It was exhilarating. I’m a rookie in my first time starting and I wasn’t expecting [it] to happen but you trust the training and you trust Coach JP’s setpieces and you’ll get the [desired] results.”
The AMFT’s next game will be their Semifinal matchup against fourth-seed University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in the City of Manila on Thursday, May 11 at 6:30 PM.
