After a dismal first three games to start off their UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament run, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles now have their mojo back.
Straight from their 5-0 win over UST last March 6, 2019, the Katipunan-based school thrashed the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 4-0, Sunday afternoon at the Far Eastern University-Diliman field in Quezon City.
“Yung difference siguro ng past two games natin is the finishing. The good thing for this match is yung consistency namin sa finishing. Yun talaga yung pinaka-importante ngayon,” said Ateneo coach Jay Pee Merida.
The Blue Eagles were able to draw first blood at the 45+3 minute. Jarvey Gayoso capitalized on his skipper Julian Roxas’s industrious pressing to score past Soaring Falcons goalie Carl Viray.
Adamson tried to equalize early in the second half through free kicks from Allen Lozano and Jackson Ramos, but neither player found the back of the net.
Merida’s men were still in full control, however. A breakaway run by Gayoso broke the Soaring Falcons’ shape and allowed him to lay the ball towards Mark Nacional, who doubled Ateneo’s lead in the 67th minute.
Gayoso and Nacional were also instrumental for the Blue Eagles’ third goal. Gayoso’s through ball set Rupert Baña free, and the latter’s eventual attempt was parried away by Adamson goalie Carl Viray. But Nacional was in the right place and he tapped the ball in in the 75th minute.
Five minutes from fulltime, rookie forward Luka Alleje provided the icing on the cake for the Blue Eagles with another tap-in, via another Gayoso assist, to cap off a pleasant afternoon for Ateneo.
Ateneo (7 points) next play against the National University on March 17, 2019, 1:00 PM. Meanwhile, Adamson (3 points) resume their campaign against FEU on March 14, 2019, 3:00 PM. FEU-Diliman will host both games.
ADMU XI: Arcilla (GK), Poe, Liao, Rocha, Dy, Herrera, Mercado, Nacional, Roxas ©, Gayoso, Baña.
AdU XI: Bardaje, Beltran, De Guzman, Feliciano, Jumo I, Lozano, Ortinez, Poncardas, Rabino, Ramos, Viray (GK).
