A HEADED goal from Louie Polinag proved to be the difference in today’s match, as the Blue Eagles were stunned on home territory by the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 0-1, in their campaign-opening game of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament on Thursday, February 21, at the Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo de Manila University
The Red Warriors began the match on the offensive, as Vincent Diano pounced on an Ateneo defensive error in the first minute of the match before attempting to round Ateneo keeper Gavin Rosario to no avail. Six minutes later, the Red Warriors drew first blood as defender Louie Polinag lost his marker to head home from a corner kick for the Red Warriors’ second goal of the season. In the 13th minute, Jarvey Gayoso almost scored his first goal of the season, firing a shot into the bottom right corner before being waved offside by the linesman.
13’ – Gayoso ripples the net from close-range but Ateneo’s equalizer is ruled out for offside!
Ateneo 0 UE 1#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/vC0yy9INKm
— Joaquin A. Santos (@Joax_TheGUIDON) February 21, 2019
In the following minutes, Jabez Setters sent in a number of dangerous crosses and tried his luck at goal but could not beat UE keeper, Frank Rieza. Momentum looked to be on Ateneo’s side, but the Red Warriors managed to hold on to their lead going into halftime.
31’ – Setters whips in a dangerous cross that almost creeps into the UE goal!
Ateneo 0 UE 1#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/Y71a3TBnh6
— Joaquin A. Santos (@Joax_TheGUIDON) February 21, 2019
At the start of the second half, Blue Eagle Andoni Maniquis was brought on to replace Jose Poe in the backline. Gayoso looked to get Ateneo back into the game as he tested the UE keeper with several shots on goal. It wasn’t until the 83rd minute when Blue Eagle Joaquin Roque found Rupert Baña who headed it just wide for Ateneo’s biggest chance of the game.
82' – CHANCE. Baña almost heads it home, but the effort is wide.
Ateneo 0 UE 1#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/0JV0uJmYT3
— Joaquin A. Santos (@Joax_TheGUIDON) February 21, 2019
The Red Warriors squandered a chance in the 87th minute, as they caught the Blue and White on a counter-attack and fired a shot straight into the post, sparing the Blue Eagles from a larger deficit. For the remainder of the match, the Red Warriors remained resilient on defense as they clogged the middle and limited the Blue Eagles’ chances
The Blue Eagles will be looking to bounce back from today’s disappointment with a victory over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on Sunday, 9AM, at FEU Diliman in Quezon City.
Ateneo Starting XI: Rosario (GK); J. Poe, Liao, Rocha, Roque; Nacional, Herrera, Roxas (c), Baña; Setters, Gayoso
UE Starting XI: Rieza (GK); Arboleda, Polinag, Arboleda, Malayo; Marin, Opeña, Diano, Lerion; Carandang
Substitutions:
45’ – Maniquis on for J. Poe
77’ – Alleje on for Nacional
90’+1 – R. Dy on for Roque
Photo by Mark Anastacio
