COMMENCING THEIR preseason stint, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) opened their Ang Liga Men’s Open Cup 2026 campaign with a 1-1 draw against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Booters. The contest was held earlier this afternoon, May 10, at the Circuit Makati Blue Pitch in the City of Makati.
Leading the pack today was Team Captain Dov Cariño, who scored the lone goal for Ateneo, with fellow forward Ranzo Aljama serving as provider with his assist. Paolo Tansingco was a brick wall in between the sticks, providing solidity in the back despite conceding a goal.
From the opening kick, defense became one of the crucial factors of the matchup as Ateneo battled with La Salle in the midfield, with neither team taking control. The Blue Eagles laid their focus on managing the pace by drawing fouls to keep the game away from the goal. Moving towards the other end of the pitch, the Blue and White offense struggled to start its engine as DLSU smothered Cariño all around the field.
In the 14th minute, the Ateneo defense got a break when La Salle hurled a shot that flew over the goal. The ensuing possessions found the Katipunan-based squad trying to keep the ball out of their side as they denied consecutive attacks.
Breaking through the La Salle blockade, Aljama found a sprinting Cariño who sent a punishing power shot for the Blue Eagles’ first mark of the tournament at the 18th minute, 1-0.
With the advantage moving to Ateneo’s favor, their focus returned to keeping the ball away from their own goalpost. The Blue Eagles began loading up their side of the field with defenders as the Green Booters’ aggressive drives kept them on their heels.
The following minutes saw a display of resiliency from Paolo Tansingco, who ward off four successive attempts by DLSU from the 31st to 34th minute in the half, keeping Ateneo in the lead. Another deflection at the 36th minute mark shattered La Salle’s offense as the action went back to centerfield.
From the 40th minute onwards, Ateneo teetered between beginning an attack and running back on defense as the ball flew around the pitch. Tansingco and the Blue Eagle backline kept the game in order as they flushed out last-minute attempts by the Green Booters to end the half still with the advantage.
The start of the second half put the Blue Eagles under early pressure, with the Ateneo backline having to clear a DLSU shot in the 47th minute. Ateneo responded a minute later through the left flank via a cross from Andrei Gonzales to Cariño, but the latter’s shot was saved by the DLSU goalkeeper.
Continuing to weather the storm from their rivals in green, the Blue and White encountered a close shave in the 50th minute as a potential Green Booter goal was called off for offside. DLSU then finally broke through the Ateneo defense three minutes later, with Uriel Dalapo given time and space to put the ball in the back of the net, 1-1.
Tansingco continued to have a busy day between the sticks, having to protect his near post with a save in the 56th minute. The Katipunan-based XI started pressing for another goal through the Cariño-Aljama link, but the latter’s shot just went wide of the post.
The Blue and White’s flanks continued to be a thorn on DLSU’s side, with Gonzales’ shot from the left wing forcing a save in the 63rd minute. Substitute Ethan Roxas then continued to accentuate Ateneo’s left side with another dangerous cross, but Aljama could not provide the finishing touch.
With the Blue Eagles further struggling for control of the game, Tansingco was called in the 69th minute as he forced another save in his near post. A minute later, a Green Booter potshot sailed above the Ateneo crossbar.
As the match entered its final 15 minutes, both teams increased their pace and directness in search of a winner. A pinpoint goal kick from Tansingco allowed a free Roxas to cross to Cariño, but the resulting shot was blocked by the DLSU defense.
Both sides remained the aggressors as they searched for that elusive winner, resulting in a multitude of free kicks and offside calls in the final 10 minutes. Despite three minutes being added as stoppage time, both teams remained deadlocked, sharing points after a 1-1 draw.
As of writing, the schedule of the Blue Eagles’ next Ang Liga match has yet to be announced.
