Ateneo de Manila University got its Final Four hopes back on track by overcoming Adamson University 3-0 in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Amid a three-game losing streak, the Blue Eagles set the tone early when Luard Abaa opened the floodgates just 12 minutes into the match while midfielder Fernando Roxas added to Ateneo’s lead with a 26th-minute goal.
Kofi Agyei, who was suspended during the Blue Eagles’ 4-0 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons last Thursday, marked his return by scoring his eighth goal this season in the 64th minute to wrap up the three points.
Not even Leo Maquiling’s missed penalty in the 41st minute that saw Adamson goalkeeper Andrew Nalog perform a fine stop could dampen Ateneo’s afternoon.
“Going to this game, talagang ang sinabi ko sa kanila ay this is our last hope if we’re gonna get the three points,” said coach JP Merida.
“I’m very happy with my players because from the start we controlled the game we set the tempo all the way to finish the 45 minutes that’s why we scored two goals,” he added.
The victory allowed the Blue Eagles to rise to fourth place in the standings, leapfrogging archrivals DLSU Green Booters, who are playing the UE Red Warriors as of this publishing.
Ateneo now has 17 points and a plus-2 goal difference, and it will finish its elimination round campaign against La Salle on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the same venue.
“First thing we need to do is recover first coming from a Thursday game and Sunday game,” said Merida. “We need to observe the game today against UE then on Thursday they have a game against FEU. So the plan is mangagaling dun sa game na yun but of course it’s Ateneo-La Salle.
“It’s a fight or flight. The idea is that we are trying to get the three points to reach the semi-finals, we’re ready for our last game against La Salle,” he continued.
In contrast, Adamson remained bottom of the standings with three points and a minus-20 goal difference.
The Soaring Falcons were left to only 10 men when Ruzzel Jose was dismissed in the 57th minute for abusive language.
Jose, who is graduating this year, will be suspended for Adamson’s last game of the season, which will take place this Thursday at 4 p.m. against University of Santo Tomas on the same pitch.
Ateneo XI: Cezar (GK), Flores, Santilices, Dela Cruz, Agyei, Maquiling, Roxas, Lopez (C), Abaa, Fernandez, Escobin.
ADU XI: Nalog (GK), Buenaobra (C), Jose, Arañas, Empleo Jr, Napili, Francisco, Casing, Banagodos, Mahinay.
