Far Eastern University returned to the win column in timely fashion, with Rustel Buenafe and Theo Libarnes delivering the goals that powered the Tamaraws past Ateneo de Manila University, 2-1, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The victory lifted FEU to fifth place in the standings with seven points, keeping the Tamaraws within striking distance of the Final Four race as they closed out the first round.
Seeking its first victory since a 10-0 drubbing of the University of the East on October 4, FEU enjoyed a dream start against Ateneo.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Buenafe, a fifth-year attacking midfielder, broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with a right-footed strike from outside the box.
Libarnes doubled the Tamaraws’ advantage in the 55th minute, cutting inside from the left flank before firing a right-footed shot to give FEU a two-goal cushion.
Ateneo pulled one back five minutes later when Alfonso Aljama delivered a cross from the wing for Diego Angeles, who headed home in the 60th minute to revive the Blue Eagles’ hopes.
Both Libarnes and Ateneo forward Dov Cariño generated further opportunities down the stretch, but neither could alter the final scoreline.
“It’s a much-needed win. We have to take each of the matches moving forward in the same way — like it’s the last,” said coach Vince Santos. “All of the defeats or the dropped points that we wasted really came from lapses, and it’s something that we agreed as a team that we would be more focused, especially with the set piece.”
The result moved FEU to fifth place with seven points, just two behind fourth-placed University of Santo Tomas, which was facing De La Salle University at the time.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo remained sixth in the standings with four points, having earned a draw against the University of the Philippines and a victory over UE.
With the Tamaraws still firmly in contention for a postseason berth, Santos urged his squad to build on the momentum heading into the second round, which begins in two weeks.
“All right, we just have to take it one game at a time,” added the Season 85 champion mentor. “We’re still very much looking to get back into the Final Four.”
