The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles may have started the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament slow, but safe to say, they have stepped on the gas in the second round.
Jarvey Gayoso’s three goals highlighted Ateneo’s 7-1 whipping of the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, Sunday afternoon, at the FEU-Diliman field in Quezon City.
The result was Ateneo’s second straight rout. They have now produced 11 goals in just two games.
“After (the team) settled, yung character nila regarding sa attacking and defending, talaga napaka-disciplined kaya siguro we scored agad nung first half. Sobrang saya kasi yung game plan namin lumabas talaga from the first half. The players followed talaga yung game plan, kaya siguro ganito yung naging end ng game,” said Ateneo coach Jay Pee Merida.
The Blue Eagles were on a roll as soon as the first whistle sounded. Gayoso set the tone for Merida’s men when he volleyed the ball home in the 10th minute to draw first blood for Ateneo.
Ateneo were simply too dominant for Adamson, as the latter’s backline succumbed to pressure time and time again. Blue Eagle defender Jeremiah Rocha struck one in from close range in the 21st minute; then Gayoso’s neat finish handed the Katipunan-based school their third goal five minutes before the break.
Adamson tried valiantly to stand toe-to-toe with Ateneo, but the Blue Eagles withstood everything thrown at them. Not even a Jackson Ramos penalty – awarded due to handball in the 30th minute, in between Rocha and Gayoso’s goals – could temper their momentum. as skipper Julian Roxas added the Blue and White’s tally at the 45+1 minute.
The Season 79 champions were still not finished, as they scored past Soaring Falcons goalie Carl Viray thrice more in the second half. Mark Nacional capitalized on the extra space afforded to him to give Ateneo their fifth goal at the 66th minute.
A minute after Nacional’s strike, Gayoso slalomed past the Adamson defense to score from a tight angle and secured his hattrick. Substitute Jabez Setters then put the icing on Ateneo’s cake, after he intercepted the ball deep in the Soaring Falcons half and added his name to the scoresheet in the 76th minute.
All in all, it was a productive morning for the Blue Eagles (16 points) as they are set for a date of revenge against their archrivals, the De La Salle University Green Archers, on April 4, 2019, 3:30 PM in FEU-Diliman.
On the other hand, Adamson (8 points) hope to end their two-game losing skid, also against La Salle but on April 7, 2019, 9:00 AM at the same venue.
ADU XI: Bardaje, De Guzman, Jumo I, Jumo II, Lozano, Magpusao, Pilarca, Poncardas, Rabino, Ramos, Viray (C, GK)
ADMU XI: Arcilla (GK), Bana, Gayoso, Herrera, Liao, Maniquis, Mercado, Nacional, Rocha, Roxas ©.
