League leaders FEU show vulnerability against hot-scoring Blue Eagles

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Things didn’t turn out well for the FEU Tamaraws as the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles won big against the league leaders to boost their bid for final four position in their second-round encounter in the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament.

Right from the get-go, the boys in gold and black didn’t seem to look like the league leaders they are as the boys from Katipunan pressed on them. However, they found an opening on the 12th minute when Kim Minsu scored the first goal of the match.

Minsu made the most of the space given to him inside the box to volley in the opening goal to put the Tamaraws in the lead. Despite leading, the Tamaraws seemed to play mostly in defense as the boys in blue push for the equalizer.

17 minutes after the opening goal, Elijah Liao leveled things up as he headed in the corner past the converted goalkeeper Jermi Darapan. Liao needed to soar past the defense to make sure the ball goes into the back of the net.

FEU tried to regain the lead on the 36th minute when Alex Rayos fed a lovely through ball to Anthony Decena but AJ Arcilla is there to gather the ball. Seven minutes before the half-time break, the Blue Eagles found their go-ahead goal when Rupert Baña received a tasty through ball from Jabbez Setters from the right side which he then slotted past Darapan.

The second half was no different for Jaypee Merida’s wards as they continued to capitalize on the lead they got in the first 45 minutes of the match. Bobae Park’s men didn’t seem to find any answers to the relentless barrage of attacks coming from the Blue Eagles.

It was on the 74th minute of the match when Ateneo’s stalwart Jarvey Gayos scored his third goal in the tournament and push the lead into two when Iñigo Herrera lobbed the ball for him. When he saw the keeper going out of his line, he then decided to chip the ball over the keeper making it a more delicious goal to savor.

Three minutes after that wonder goal, it was game, set, and match for the Blue Eagles as Liao eased their fourth goal into the back of the net. Ateneo truly capitalized on the unfamiliarity of the Tamaraws in situations where they are down.

Despite being out of their comfort zone, FEU still found some promise from the man between the sticks in this match. Darapan came in as a replacement keeper for the injured Dave Parac. Before Parac got injured, Darapan’s natural position is in defense, making it easier for him to adapt to his new position.

In the dying minutes of the match, Darapan made two quick saves after Gayoso tried to blast a shot past him only to find the keeper’s gloves. Though he spilled the first save, he then made sure that the rebound will be kept safe in his grasp.

The Blue Eagles now soar to second place after the win while the Tamaraws keep their lead at the top of the table with 15 points followed by Ateneo who’s just two points behind the league leaders.

Games on Sunday, March 31, 2019

(FEU Diliman)

9AM– AdU vs ADMU

1:30PM– UST vs FEU

3:30PM– DLSU vs UP

Photo by: Tiebreaker Times

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