THE ATENEO Blue Eagles conclude their penultimate match of the elimination round with a draw against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 3-3. The match took place earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Although a win would have secured the Blue Eagles’ spot in first, Ateneo still remains at the top of the standings with an 8-1-2 win-draw-loss record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Men’s Football tournament.
The Blue Eagles entered the match under immediate pressure as the Red Warriors unleashed a series of aggressive attacks from the opening whistle. In his first start this season, goalkeeper Alfonso Loja proved pivotal early after making crucial saves in the 7th and 9th minutes to keep Ateneo afloat. However, the Blue Eagles struggled to gain control, with much of the play confined to their defensive third.
Despite their opponents’ onslaught, the Katipunan-based unit managed a breakthrough in the 9th minute. Rookie Ryen Lim capitalized on a counterattack, calmly slotting the ball past a scrambling UE keeper to secure a 1-0 lead and momentarily shift the momentum.
The Red Warriors, however, responded swiftly, exposing Ateneo’s defensive vulnerabilities as a penalty kick by UE Team Captain Eldrin Madrid at the 14th minute leveled the score, 1-1. Brief offensive sparks then offered glimpses of promise for Ateneo, including chances from Joaquin Collo and Dov Cariño at the 20th minute. However, the Blue Eagles failed to sustain meaningful pressure against UE’s relentless attack.
Midway through the half, Ateneo’s offense produced another moment of brilliance. In the 31st minute, Collo volleyed a precise pass from Cariño into the net, restoring Ateneo’s lead at 2-1. However, the Blue and White’s defensive lapses reemerged, allowing UE’s Jam Rey Mariveles to capitalize on loose marking and equalize in the 41st minute with a clinical one-touch finish, 2-2.
In the closing moments of the first half, Cariño and Collo pressed for another breakthrough in added time, but UE’s defense held its ground. Ultimately, missed chances and recurring defensive miscues left the Blue and White unable to maintain their lead, sending both teams into halftime deadlocked.
Aiming to break free from the stalemate, the Blue Eagles unleashed a flurry on the offensive end at the start of the second half. Following an attempt from Collo that hit the side netting, Team Captain Leo Maquiling scored an impressive goal at the 52nd minute to end the deadlock, 3-2. The skipper capitalized on another assist from Cariño that concluded in an excellent shot from outside the box.
Despite multiple attempts to take a two-goal advantage thereafter, these looks ended up being shut down by UE’s stifling defense. After multiple scoring chances from Ateneo, Red Warrior skipper Madrid took matters into his own hands and managed to equalize the match anew at the 67th minute, 3-3.
The Blue Eagles were turned by the defensive stronghold as they continued to struggle to break past UE’s walls. While the Red Warriors drove down the open space to attack the offensive zone, the Ateneo backline provided interim relief to keep the scores stationary.
The Blue and White attackers were then hounded by fades wide off the post as they clawed to connect in the goal area. Although the Red Warriors found the opportunity to get the go ahead in extra time, a timely save from Loja ceded Ateneo’s first draw of the season.
The Blue Eagles will look to rebuild their momentum against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters on Sunday, December 1, at 7:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (3): Maquiling (C) , Flores, Santillices, Dela Cruz, Cariño, Collo, Bengson, Lim, Lojas (GK), Arias, Pastor
UE (3): Madrid (C), Sapedan, Magallon, Yangco, Hernan, Hermoso, Abarca, Maghinay, Adonis, Modin, Tambilawan (GK)
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 25 (+21)
- FEU Tamaraws – 23 (+20)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 22 (+15)
- UST Golden Booters – 14 (-5)
- DLSU Green Booters – 10 (-10)
- UE Red Warriors – 15 (-9)
- AdU Soaring Falcons – 3 (-26)
