DESPITE KEEPING the match at a stalemate until added time, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) conceded a final goal to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 1-2. The elimination bout between last season’s finalists in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 was held earlier this evening at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
After dropping their second game of the season, Ateneo remains third in the standings with 14 points entering a two-week break.
The opening half of the match saw both sides trading shots at the net as FEU had 10 shots with four on target, whereas Ateneo had seven attempts with four getting close to the goal.
Despite the physicality of the match prohibiting goals early on, the Tamaraws’ offense would get the better of the Blue Eagles in the 36th minute, as Karl Absalon sent a powerful strike from outside the box with Ateneo late to challenge. With this, the FEU forward picked up his fourth goal of the season, 1-0.
Later on in the 42nd minute, a yellow card was handed to Viejay Frigallano after an advertent play to subdue Kofi Agyei, leading to an Atenean free-kick. Although Leo Maquiling’s kick reached Jose Lopez, the latter’s header was simply too high as Ateneo remained scoreless.
However, an opening would come for the Blue Eagles in the 44th minute after Khent Valenzuela was thrown out with a red card after a hard tackle on Jet Dela Cruz, forcing FEU to play with 10 men for the rest of the match.
Opening the second half, a close call for Ateneo was averted in the 56th minute after an attempt by Sherwin Basindanan skied above the crossbar. 14 minutes later, the Blue Eagles would eventually find a golden opportunity through a corner throw-in by Maquiling, but after multiple header chances, FEU eventually held on.
In the 76th minute, Basindanan found himself wide open off a pass from Martini Rey. With only Artuz Cezar in his way, Basindanan came up empty-handed as the reigning Best Keeper of the league came up with a big save to keep Ateneo within striking distance.
Just a minute later, Agyei took it upon himself to bring Ateneo back with an impressive flick over RJ Pescadera, sending a goal through the legs of Jetrick Fabrigas to even the match at 1-1.
In the 88th minute, the play was eventually stopped after a head collision between Gabriel Busuego and Gerald Estores, which led to their substitutions from the game. With three minutes into added time and multiple failed attempts earlier in the match, Basindanan finally found the back of the net with a header to take the game, 2-1.
Ateneo has two weeks to recuperate as they continue their second-round journey by facing the University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters on Thursday, April 11, 6:30 PM at the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Cezar, Flores, Salud, Dela Cruz, Agyei, Maquiling, F. Roxas, J. Lopez (C), Abaa, Fernandez, Escobin
FEU (2): Fabrigas, Arriola, Yu, Absalon, Rey, Valenzuela, Frigillano, Darapan, Bacon, Mustapa, Alipoon
Standings (Points, Goal Difference):
- FEU Tamaraws (18, +10)
- UP Fighting Maroons (15, +4)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (14, +6)
- UST Golden Booters (10, +3)
- DLSU Green Booters (9, 0)
- UE Red Warriors (3, -14)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (2, -9)
