By: Nicole Parallag
CITY OF IMUS – In a match that will be remembered more for its drama than the seven-goal thriller on display, University of the East outlasted Ateneo de Manila University, 4-3, to secure its first win of the season Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here, amid controversial circumstances.
With the Blue Eagles trailing 4-2, Hugh Soriano brought them closer in the 90+1st minute with a goal from a set-piece.
The goal sparked an extraordinary reaction from the Red Warriors. Frank Muescan and his team walked off the pitch in protest, believing an offside that went against them should have been called.
UE eventually returned to finish the game, with only four minutes of added time given, but tensions remained high as both teams were involved in a lengthy post-match altercation. Tournament officials, led by Commissioner Rely San Agustin, stepped onto the pitch to calm the situation.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“It’s been two matches where we felt other teams get calls (from the referees), but when there are fouls against us, we can’t understand why we don’t get those calls,” said coach Frank Muescan. “A while ago, it was very obvious since the scoreline was 4-0. We don’t know why the referees had those decisions.
“In my 30-plus years of coaching, this is my first time to experience that. Since there is no VAR, the referee called for a fair play and then suddenly deemed it as a foul against us. Oh my gosh! I don’t understand it. It was very obvious. Second, it should have been an offside call as Ateneo’s goal was clearly offside,” he explained.
“If they were not guilty about it, they should have given me a card when I pulled my players out. They didn’t give me anything and I’m sick of facing whatever sanction they will give us for that, but this should be addressed as calls should be fair for both sides.”
Defender Eldrin Madrid opened the scoring for UE in the 44th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot the ball into the net.
In the second half, Jerome Abarca doubled the Red Warriors’ lead with a tap-in in the 53rd minute, followed by Bernard Magallon, who extended UE’s advantage in the 57th minute.
John Mariveles then added a fourth goal in the 60th minute, seemingly putting the match out of Ateneo’s reach.
However, the Blue Eagles mounted a late comeback. John Molina pulled one back in the 79th minute after a precise setup from Kofi Agyei, and captain Dov Cariño added another goal in the 85th minute to bring Ateneo within striking distance.
UE secured its first three points of the season, climbing from the bottom to fifth place in the standings and reducing its goal difference from -2 to -1.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ateneo suffered its first loss of the season but remained in third place with three points and a +2 goal difference.
The victory also ended UE’s seven-match winless streak against the Blue Eagles.
It was the Red Warriors’ first win over Ateneo since a 1-0 triumph on Feb. 21, 2019.
Both teams will return to action on Thursday at Vermosa.
Ateneo aims to bounce back against the University of Santo Tomas at 4:30 PM, while UE will look to extend its momentum against Adamson University at 7:00 PM.
