THE ATENEO Blue Eagles got off to a triumphant start in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 campaign after an emphatic 3-0 rout of the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons. The opening matchday was held earlier today, September 21, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.
This opening win preemptively places the Blue and White at the top of the table with three points and a goal difference of +3.
The star tandem of Team Captain Dov Cariño and striker Kofi Agyei led the charge for the Blue Eagles. Skipper Cariño bagged one goal and an assist to cop Man of the Match honors while the Ghanaian foreign student athlete netted a brace in his first UAAP game since Season 86.
Moreover, goalkeeper Alfonso Loja also tallied his first clean sheet of the season following his excellent defensive performance.
Both squads came out of the gates in their respective 4-3-3 formations, trading exchanges in the midfield and familiarizing themselves with their opponents’ tactics throughout the first ten minutes of the match.
However, after Ateneo began to threaten the Adamson defense by the 11th minute, the Soaring Falcons immediately countered as possession returned to their end of the pitch. Following a missed clearance from defender Mateo Lacson, AdU’s Golike Doko sent a shot that went wide off a tight angle, keeping the score even.
Shortly after, starting goalkeeper Loja showcased his goaltending prowess by securing a looping ball sent in by the Soaring Falcons at the 15th minute. Loja built on his stellar performance with another great save seven minutes later, collecting a long ball free kick from Adamson.
The Blue Eagles also managed to string together opportunities in their attacking third with close calls in the 20th and 23rd minutes with striker Agyei as their target. Ateneo then gained the majority of the possession throughout the middle of the first half.
This momentum shift benefited the Blue and White as Ateneo finally found the back of the net in the 38th minute. Via a counterattack, Team Captain Cariño sent a through ball to Agyei, who got past Adamson keeper Sean Chua, slotting in the first goal of Season 88 and handing the lead to the Blue Eagles, 1-0.
Agyei attempted to repeat his previous success, showing off great footwork with a left-footed strike towards the center. Despite the 44th-minute attempt, Chua managed to block the Blue Eagle attempt.
The Soaring Falcons then countered in the dying minutes of the half, but Loja’s timely saves proved all of Adamson’s attempts futile, as Ateneo held on to their 1-0 advantage to close out the first 45 minutes of play.
Entering the second half, the Blue Eagles immediately looked to increase their work rate as Atenean attackers swarmed Adamson’s box. Jethro Flores spearheaded the barrage, with his 46th-minute long-range effort just sailing above the crossbar.
Moments later, the Soaring Falcons responded with swift scoring opportunities of their own, but keeper Loja was quick to halt any brewing action. Along with Loja, Ateneo’s ever-reliable defenders cleared away incoming danger to neutralize Adamson’s frenetic runs off the counter.
Eager to put their adversaries to bed, the Blue Eagles continued to control the rhythm with Cariño and Agyei’s dispatching successive attempts on target. Despite this, no chance materialized as Adamson’s backline held its defensive ground.
Building on their growing offensive momentum, Cariño finally found Ateneo’s second goal of the match as he struck home a perfectly executed free kick from 25 yards out in the 64th minute to double the margin, 2-0.
Minutes later, Loja continued his stellar showing on the other end of the pitch, acrobatically parrying away an open shot off the rebound, allowing Ateneo to maintain a tight 2-0 hold of the lead.
With a victory looming for their side, the Blue and White cautiously played possession, picking the right spots before loading up their attacks. These gambits eventually paid dividends as rookie Karl Molina lofted a superb pass to a maneuvering Agyei, who instinctively headed home a thumping header past the outstretched arms of Adamson’s Chua, 3-0, to ultimately pick up the victory and the Blue Eagles’ first three points of the season.
Given this win, the Blue and White will look to build on this momentum as they take on the University of the East Red Warriors next Sunday, September 28, at 4:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (3): Loja (GK), Agyei, Aljama, Arias, Cariño (C), De Ocampo, Flores, Lacson, Rance, Salud
AdU (0): Chua (GK), Cueno, Ricario, Roldan, Doko, Dasig, Hayahay, Escarilla, Pabalete, Cabuag, Lawas
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 3 (+3)
- FEU Tamaraws
- UP Fighting Maroons
- UST Golden Strikers
- DLSU Green Booters
- UE Red Warriors
- AdU Soaring Falcons – 0 (-3)
