FEU rides strong second half to upend Ateneo

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 86 Men's Football Standings

Ateneo 7 pts. (+3 GD)
DLSU 7 (+1)
UST 6 (+4)
FEU 6 (+2)
UP 6 (+1)
UE 3 (-8)
AdU 2 (-3)

Far Eastern University secured a 4-2 victory over Ateneo de Manila in the second game of the Thursday doubleheader at the UP Football Stadium inside the Diliman campus.

The defending champions took over in the second half after both sides battled to a 1-1 deadlock into the break.

Karl Absalon pounced on the rebound to give FEU the lead for good in the 49th minute, with Artuz Cezar unable to gather the ball off his header after a nice cross from Sherwin Basindanan.

The roles were reversed at the 69th minute, with Absalon sending a through pass for Basindanan to finish, making it 3-1, on the latter's first goal of the season.

FEU would have a chance to make it 4-1 in the 85th minute, but Viejay Frigillano skied the penalty attempt after a Blue Eagle fouled a Tamaraw inside the area.

Ateneo would pounce on that, with Kofi Agyei forcing a giveaway and scoring his fifth goal of the season from 35 yards with the FEU keeper off his line in the 86th minute.

The Ghanaian striker could have equalized the game had he converted the low cross from Leo Maquiling a couple of minutes later, but Jerick Fabrigas was ready for the strike to preserve the lead.

A couple of second half substitutes capped off the win for the titleholders, with Khent Valenzuela finding McJay Neniel in stoppage time to restore the two-goal cushion.

After the match, coach Albert Besa had this to say, "We are very proud kase Ateneo, kahit dati pa naman mahirap kalaban yung Ateneo, mga magagaling tsaka yung pride and passion nila sa game nakita naman natin sa game kahit nagso-score kami bumabawi sila pero siguro sa game na to napakita namin na mas gusto  namin manalo."

He adds, "For the past two games marami kaming lapses especially sa ball possesion namin attacking and defending siguro yung preparation more on sa team hindi sa play ng Ateneo so nag-adjust kami sa game namin."

With the win, FEU moves level into third place, joining idle sides UST and UP. Ateneo remains level on points alongside La Salle with the defeat, snapping a three-match undefeated streak.