THE ATENEO Men’s Football Team (AMFT) suffers from their 0-3 shutout loss to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Booters. The elimination bout in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Men’s Football Tournament was held earlier this evening at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
Tonight’s result drops the Blue and White to the fifth spot in the standings with 14 points and a goal difference of +3, while the Golden Booters leap to the second seed.
At the blow of the opening whistle, UST immediately dictated the pace on the pitch, with early attempts towards the Katipunan box. Despite efforts from star midfielder Leo Maquiling to find Kofi Agyei in hopes of sparking a run, the España-based squad fortified their defense to stifle the Ateneo pair.
Soon after, Golden Booter Kyler Escobar easily found their first breakthrough in the eighth minute due to the splintered defense from the Blue Eagles at the box, 0-1.
Hungry to level the playing field, Maquiling, Agyei, and Fonzy Escobin collected multiple shot attempts, but UST keeper Jose Miguel Abada competently safeguarded his post with timely catches.
Despite the increasing work rate for both teams, defender Jethro Flores stayed persistent to orchestrate more opportunities for the Blue Eagles but none resulted in a point. UST sustained their feisty offensive energy towards the end of the first half, with two clear shots on target. Ateneo keeper Artuz Cezar managed to respond with two saves in a row to prevent the Golden Booters from locking in another goal.
At the onset of the second half, a foul by Ateneo’s Rico Magno from inside the box resulted in a penalty kick for UST. In the 48th minute, Cezar failed to deny the goal off the Golden Booters’ free-kick, courtesy of Archie Belluga, 0-2.
In the 60th minute, the two Atenean defenders were unsuccessful in preventing the set play from Chris Valderama, as Escobar managed to net a header, 0-3.
With their backs against the wall, the Blue Eagles were unable to come up with significant opportunities on the offensive end for the remainder of the half.
However, a chance opened up in the 88th minute after UST’s John Garcia incurred a yellow card. This infraction resulted in a set-piece opportunity with Leo Maquiling sending in the ball. Unfortunately for Ateneo, the ball was parried away by Abada to keep his clean sheet.
A final chance at a consolation goal in the first minute of added time ended up fruitless for Ateneo. Andy Roxas’ long cross to an open Agyei failed to result in a goal for the Blue and White as the Golden Booters took the decisive victory, 3-0.
The Blue Eagles have a week to regroup and re-enter the top four as they take on the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Thursday, April 18, 5:00 PM at the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (0): Cezar (GK), Flores, Dela Cruz, Agyei, Maquiling, J. Lopez (C), W. Lopez, Abaa, Fernandez, M. Roxas, Escobin
UST (3): Abada (GK/C), Alegre, Escobar, Songalia, Belluga, Selarde, Valderama, Vercide, Garciano, Regis, Garcia
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- FEU Tamaraws – 21 (+14)
- UST Golden Booters – 16 (+10)
- DLSU Green Booters – 15 (+5)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 15 (+3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 14 (+3)
- UE Red Warriors – 4 (-18)
- AdU Soaring Falcons – 3 (-17)
