THE ATENEO Men’s Football Team (AMFT) kicked off their preseason stint by outlasting the Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (MMCL) Wizards, 3-1, earlier today at the University of the Philippines Diliman Football Field in Quezon City. This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-0 standing in Ang Liga Season 19.
Galen Fernanadez announced his return to the pitch early on by seamlessly driving down the attacking left side to score in the fourth minute of the match, 1-0. Commanding the momentum, the Blue Eagles kept the upper hand despite multiple attempts from MMCL to take control of the contest.
With MMCL slowly gaining defensive momentum, Ateneo swiftly made up for a blocked shot at the 27th minute after rookie Jethro Flores pushed past the Wizards’ keeper to hit the back of the net, 2-0. Not long after, AC Uy cemented a comfortable lead for the Blue and White, taking advantage of the clear path with a solid shot from the opposite post, 3-0.
Despite the starting combination of rookies and seasoned vets, the AMFT decisively controlled the offensive end for the majority of the opening 45 minutes, denying MMCL from creating chances past the mid-third of the field until the end of the first half.
However, with their backs against the wall, the Wizards greeted the second half with more urgency, challenging the Blue Eagle defenders to create more opportunities for a comeback. In the 56th minute, center-back Enzo Lucindo committed a foul within the penalty box to give the Cabuyao-based squad an opportunity to get on the board. Rookie goalie Alfonso Loja was unable to stop the resulting penalty shot from MMCL, granting the Wizards their first point, 3-1.
Undeterred by the penalty, Ateneo kept MMCL at bay until the end of the match with veterans Dov Cariño and Kofi Agyei leading the offensive front, while sophomore keeper Santi Pastor stayed vigilant at the box.
At the conclusion of their first victory, AC Uy shares his thoughts on his first official match with Ateneo. “I’m very happy about my debut game, although I still am dissatisfied with some of my performance. I think there’s a lot I can improve on, and we can improve on as a team. Hopefully we get to show that in our next game on Saturday,” he says.
The Blue Eagles look to tally more wins this preseason as they face fellow University Athletic Association of the Philippines contender, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, on Saturday, August 26, at 4:00 PM, in the same venue.
