THE ATENEO Blue Eagles secured a one-sided victory against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 3-1, in their second encounter of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Football Tournament. The matchup was held earlier today, November 16, at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
With this emphatic win, the Blue Eagles improve to a 4-2-3 win-draw-loss record and a +7 goal differential.
Mateo Lacson led the way for the Blue Eagles, securing the Man of the Match honors after notching two assists on the night. Alongside the defender, Kofi Agyei, Oswald Santicilles, and Ethan Roxas tallied one goal apiece for the Blue and White.
Setting the tone in the early stages of the contest, Ateneo generated a chance in the seventh minute off a Lacson free kick. Although the attempt was converted through an Agyei header, the goal was eventually ruled offside.
In the succeeding minutes, Ateneo dominated possession through tenacious defense, preventing UE from building any offensive rhythm. In the 14th minute, however, a Caleb Santos and Santicilles defensive mix-up led to a timely opportunity for the Red Warriors, forcing a save from Ateneo goalkeeper Paolo Tansingco.
Eager to regain control, Ateneo amped up the pressure, generating a number of free kicks, including a 20th-minute corner kick. Taking the chance, Lacson found Santicilles inside the box, slotting the ball into the back of the net off an athletic finish, securing the first goal of the game, 1-0.
Using this newfound momentum, the Blue and White continued to threaten the Red Warriors’ defense, attempting a trio of shots from distance. While these efforts failed to convert, Ateneo’s attack continued to test UE’s backline.
Continuing this dominant showing, Team Captain Dov Cariño found himself on the right flank in the 37th minute, as the skipper looked to cross the ball to the other end of the box. However, the dangerous pass was intercepted, maintaining the tight scoreline.
Looking to increase his team’s lead in the closing stages of the half, Cariño attempted a 45th-minute free kick that found Lacson inside the box for a high lobbed shot. Despite UE goalkeeper Nickyo Cloma’s best efforts, the ball sailed over the defender’s hands, as Agyei came in from behind and slotted in the chance to end the half, 2-0.
The Blue Eagles immediately reentered the fray with attacking intent as the frontline threatened UE’s box early on in the closing half. Lacson and Aljama powered the barrage with blistering maneuvers, disrupting the Red Warriors’ defensive form.
Sensing danger, Cariño followed suit in the onslaught with a clear chance at goal from close range in the 50th minute. However, the Team Captain saw his shot denied by UE’s Chrisjan Tambiliwan’s last-ditch dive.
Determined to deny their adversaries any momentum, the Blue Eagles continued to dominate possession in the succeeding sequences. Capitalizing on their offensive patience, Roxas found the back of the net in the 64th minute to extend Ateneo’s cushion, 3-0.
Moments later, Kofi Agyei continued to operate aggressively in the attacking third, manufacturing chances for himself and the surrounding attackers. The most prominent of these chances came in the 68th minute when Agyei failed to convert an open rebound off of Roxas’ miss.
On the other end of the pitch, Tansingco manned the post with acrobatic attempts in the 75th and 83rd minutes to negate UE’s impending actions. Rookie Santos supplemented Tansingco’s heroics, generating timely clearances within the box to keep the Recto-based squad scoreless.
Despite the excellent defensive actions, Ateneo’s backline succumbed to UE’s relentless pressure in the closing stages of the match. Finding himself wrong-footed in the 88th minute, Tansingco was unable to parry away UE’s Jerome Abarca’s low-driven shot to concede a last-minute goal to the Red Warriors, 3-1.
Looking to continue their winning ways, the Blue and White will be back in action next year when they face the De La Salle University Green Booters on January 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (3): Tansingco (GK), Santilices, Salud, Lacson, Cariño (C), Agyei, Aljama, Soriano, Santos, Bengson, Roxas
UE (1): Cloma (GK), Magallon (C), Villar, Yangco, Adonis, Hernan, Mariveles, Hermoso, Madrid, Abarca, Maghinay
Current Standings — Points (GD):
- UP Fighting Maroons — 22 (+12)
- FEU Tamaraws — 17 (+9)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles — 11 (+7)
- UST Golden Booters — 14 (+3)
- DLSU Green Booters — 9 (-1)
- AdU Soaring Falcons — 5 (-11)
- UE Red Warriors — 0 (-19)
