THE ATENEO Blue Eagles split points with the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws after a gritty 1-1 deadlock in a rematch of last year’s finals. The concluding match of the first round was held earlier today, October 16, at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
The draw provisionally places the Blue and White at third in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Football Tournament standings, with 2-2-2 win-draw-loss record and a +2 goal difference.
Team Captain Dov Cariño earned his third Man of the Match award, scoring the breakthrough in the highly tactical showdown. Meanwhile, Selwyn Mamon paced the Tamaraws, netting a goal in the comeback effort.
Ateneo came out the gates pressing high in the hopes of gaining the tactical advantage early on in the match. Cariño spearheaded the early gambits, with a clear chance at a goal in the sixth minute that was immediately put out by a last-ditch tackle.
On the other end of the pitch, rookie Nathan De Ocampo anchored the backline, closely man-marking the deep maneuvers of FEU’s Theo Libarnes within Ateneo territory. Keeper Paolo Tansingco followed suit in the defensive effort, parrying away a superb shot from a tight angle in the 20th minute.
Midway through the half, the match turned into a highly technical affair as both squads struggled to bypass each other’s aggressive backlines. Amid the tactical stalemate, Javier Bengson aggressively ignited the midfield with bursting runs that constantly threatened FEU’s defense. At the same time, Tansingco continued his standout showing, denying a long-range effort in the 29th minute.
The Blue Eagles continued to play on the defensive as the Tamaraws slowly dominated possession, marked by a brilliant string of short passes in their attacks. Undeterred by the momentum shift, Kofi Agyei generated a run at goal in the 38th minute, winning a penalty kick after a reckless challenge by FEU within the box. Showcasing his poise, Cariño calmly slotted home a Panenka finish from the penalty spot to break the deadlock, 1-0.
Inspired by the breakthrough, Agyei continued to impose his will in the attacking third, dispatching successive attempts on target from close range. However, the Blue Eagle saw all his efforts denied by FEU’s stable backline.
After the halftime break, Oswald Santilices was subbed in for De Ocampo to shore up the Katipunan-based squad’s right flank. The start of the period then continued with FEU dominating the midfield, and Ateneo’s shape remaining compact to hit their opponents on the counter.
The first opening of the half belonged to the Tamaraws in the 55th minute, with a quick series of short passes that allowed Libarnes to take a shot just outside the box. However, this chance was immediately saved by Tansingco, who served as the Blue Eagles’ keeper sans Alfonso Loja. Four minutes later, Cariño almost produced a moment of magic for Ateneo, catching Jetrick Fabrigas off guard with his cross, but was unable to connect with teammate Karl Molina.
The skipper had another opportunity to double the Blue Eagles’ lead just after the one-hour mark, courtesy of a Santilices through ball, but the linesman ruled him out for offside. The 64th minute was a particular defensive highlight, as crucial blocks from Bengson, Marco Salud, and Kenji Rance along FEU’s right flank averted further crisis.
Ateneo continued to be hounded by FEU’s attack, with Tansingco saving a potshot from Niu in the 65th minute and collecting a Cuesta cross in the next minute. Ateneo’s injury woes worsened in the 67th minute, as Tansingco had to be stretchered off due to severe cramps.
Ateneo’s sudden goalkeeping change forced a rushed adjustment, allowing FEU to put more pressure on the whole defensive line. The Tamaraws finally found their breakthrough in the 70th minute, with Mamon taking advantage of newly-substituted goalkeeper Santi Pastor being off his line to equalize, 1-1.
Determined to wrestle back control of the game, Rance executed two dangerous crosses in the 76th and 79th minutes, but the FEU defense dealt with both effectively. Both teams increased attacking tempo in the 80th minute in a bid to break the deadlock, leading Mamon to almost get past Pastor, and Agyei nearly catching Fabrigas sleeping high up the pitch moments after.
A minute later, Bengson and Cariño nearly gave the Blue and White the lead, as the former’s shot was blocked by FEU defenders, while the latter was saved by Fabrigas. The last five minutes were marred by a multitude of offside calls, with both teams’ high lines and offside traps preventing each other from creating more chances. Despite their best efforts, Ateneo was unable to convert, picking up a point as the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Head coach JP Merida shared his thoughts about how the game transpired. “I don’t know what to feel right now. We lost Paolo due to cramps, but we cannot blame Santi because it was his first time facing FEU, so there [were] miscommunications. I think we need to move forward and accept this draw,” the tactician said.
The Blue Eagles will look to further ascend through the league table as they enter the second cycle of the preliminaries. As of writing, the UAAP has yet to release the schedule of matches for the second round.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Tansingco (GK), Agyei, Bautista, Bengson, Cariño (C), De Ocampo, Molina, Lacson, Salud, Santos, Soriano
FEU (1): Fabrigas (GK), Aban Jr., Alipoon, Anito, Baylon, Buenafe, Escobar, Libarnes, Niu, Pescadera, Yu
Current Standings – Points (GD):
- UP Fighting Maroons – 16 (+6)
- FEU Tamaraws – 8 (+3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 8 (+2)
- DLSU Green Booters – 8 (+2)
- UST Golden Booters – 5 (-1)
- AdU Soaring Falcons – 4 (-6)
- UE Red Warriors – 0 (-6)
