Two games, two wins. In a league like the UAAP where every win is valuable, to get two straight wins against the league’s cellar dwellers is welcome for a top contender who has been struggling this season. Straight from their trashing of the University of the East Red Warriors, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws delivered another rout, this time at the expense of the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
The Tamaraws defeated the Soaring Falcons, 4-0, with goals from Paolo Bugas (penalty 10′), Rico Andes (14′ & 68′), and Audie Menzi (90+1′) to secure three important points.
It had been a dominant performance from FEU as soon as the game kicked off. Val Jurao hit the bar early in the match, and minutes later, Andes was awarded a penalty after he was fouled in the Adamson box. Bugas stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home at the 10th minute.
FEU relentlessly bombarded the Adamson defense. Menzi had his free kick parried away by Adamson goalkeeper Carlo Viray, but it landed with Eric Giganto, whose follow-up was deflected out. In the 14th minute, though, the Tamaraws doubled their lead from a counter. Adamson pressed for an equalizer but the FEU defense held firm; Andes received the ball from the left flank at his own half, and he went all the way to score a goal reminiscent of Gareth Bale’s in the 2014 Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona.
Chance after chance fell for FEU as they probed Adamson to extend their lead. Bugas and Dave Deloso had their attempts on goal, but both failed to test Viray. Andes continued to penetrate the Adamson defense from the left flank but his shot was misdirected into the side-netting. The first half concluded with the Tamaraws in control via a 2-0 lead.
A similar story unfolded in the second half as the Tamaraws maintained their supremacy throughout the match. Giganto continued his search for a goal and he went close, but his shot hit the Adamson post. Three minutes later, though, the post helped FEU as it deflected Andes’ shot into goal at the 65th minute.
Adamson struggled to put two passes together as FEU made it a point to quickly recycle possession and create chances to get the fourth goal. Jurao and Giganto failed to score, but Menzi inevitably added to the goals in the first minute of stoppage time.
For FEU assistant coach Dexter Chio, it was still about adjustments for the Tamaraws after their losses against the De La Salle University and University of Santo TOmas. “Nag-aadjust kami sa last two games namin na talo kaya binabawi namin. Last two games na namin sunod-sunod na panalo.” Chio added, “Magfocus kami na mapanalo yung second round lahat ng games tsaka makuha yung finals slot.”
Today’s result left FEU with 11 points and third place in the standings at the end of the first round. Adamson, on the other hand, had to make do with 3 points and seventh place.
