CITY OF IMUS — Adamson University earned its first win with a commanding 3-0 victory over the University of the East in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Thursday night at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here.
Cameroonian striker Golike Dany Doko opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Carl Mahinay doubled the Soaring Falcons’ lead with a 41st-minute strike.
After several missed opportunities to extend their advantage, Roberto Roldan finally sealed the match in the 74th minute, ensuring Adamson walked away with all three points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UE had several chances to pull one back in the second half, but Karl Festin and Jerome Abarca were unable to convert.
The win also handed Falcons goalkeeper Shane Salarda his first clean sheet of the season.
“Credits to them; you see the way they played, the energy they gave. They came out to win,” said Adamson head coach Dalton Digha. “It’s not about me, it’s about them. I’m proud of them and I think they played their best game this season.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Red Warriors were already without head coach Frank Muescan and defenders Mark Maghinay and Christian Tio. The trio were all suspended for their involvement in last Sunday’s late-match incident against Ateneo de Manila University that led to a three-point deduction.
But they suffered another setback when Keith Hermoso was sent off in stoppage time with a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Adamson, which previously battled to a 2-2 draw with the University of Santo Tomas, will next face the University of the Philippines at 6:30 PM on Thursday at the UP Football Stadium.
On the same day, UE, still at the bottom of the table, will take on defending champion Far Eastern University at 4:00 PM. – TJ
