THE ATENEO Blue Eagles faltered against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 0-1, in their semifinal matchup earlier today, August 24, at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.
Today’s loss sends the Loyola Heights-based XI down to the third-place match, where they will face San Beda University for a shot at a podium finish in the inaugural Tuloy Invitational Cup.
Despite the tough loss, goalkeeper Alfonso Loja proved to be an impenetrable wall, keeping the Fighting Maroon attack at bay for as long as possible. Offensively, Team Captain Dov Cariño shined as the undermanned Ateneo squad’s conduit, consistently producing key chances for the Blue Eagles.
The Katipunan derby began with both sides keen to display their high-octane styles of play. Early on, UP produced the first shots of the game in the fourth and fifth minutes, but these attempts were easily saved by Loja.
Ateneo continued to endure the sustained pressure from their crosstown rivals, with Loja and defender Mateo Lacson being forced to make crucial saves and clearances to maintain the deadlock. The 20th minute proved to be a pivotal moment for the Fighting Maroons, as Florenz Tacardon’s inside-the-box effort went wide.
Desperate to settle into the game, Cariño then took matters into his own hands by delivering a dangerous cross in the 28th minute, though the ball was cleared by the Fighting Maroon defense. In the 37th minute, Ateneo had another key chance courtesy of Cariño, but the Loyola Heights-based squad remained pinned back by UP, with Loja kept busy.
The end of the half continued to be a tight affair, with suffocating defense and a series of fouls from both Katipunan co-tenants, which prevented either side from taking control of the game and ending the half goalless, 0-0.
Entering the second half, Ateneo found themselves struggling to match UP’s pace as the opposing forwards relentlessly pounced in the attacking third. With the backline called into action early, keeper Loja remained a steady presence on the goalpost, making crucial catches to keep the game levelled.
Midway through the closing half, the same story unfolded as the Blue Eagles surrendered key opportunities to a pressing Fighting Maroon frontline. Lacson continued his stellar play, anchoring the defensive third amid a flurry of sublime sequences generated by the opposing forwards. Loja reinforced the defender’s heroic efforts anew, as the goalie made a quick dive in the 60th minute to deny UP an open shot off the transition.
Looking to ignite an offensive rhythm, Javier Bengson and Kofi Agyei spearheaded the attacks towards the backend of the half. Bengson capitalized on set-pieces, while Agyei made his towering presence felt within the Fighting Maroons’ box. However, the pairing struggled to find the breakthrough as UP’s ever-present defenders immediately put out their maneuvers.
With neither team giving an inch, the second half ended as both sides still remained scoreless, prompting the match to proceed into extra time.
The first half of extra time continued to operate on a knife’s edge, with neither team giving an inch. However, Ateneo’s defense finally succumbed to UP’s constant pressure in the 104th minute as an unmarked Fighting Maroon was able to hit the back of the net, 0-1.
Desperate to find the equalizer, the Blue Eagles banked on long passes to locate forwards down the middle. However, the Blue and White’s gambits proved futile as the Fighting Maroons closely man-marked the onrushing Atenean forwards. With time against their side and UP cautiously playing possession, the Blue Eagles struggled to carve out succeeding chances, ultimately falling to their league rivals.
Following this, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will shift their preparations to the third-place match against the San Beda Red Booters next week, August 31, at the same venue.
