Co-leaders Ateneo and FEU went their separate ways this past weekend, with contrasting results during the UAAP Season 77 men's football matches.
Defending champions FEU stumbled at the Moro Lorenzo Field on Sunday afternoon, bowing to upstart National University, 3-1, at the opening game of the doubleheader at the field inside the campus of Ateneo de Manila University.
The Tamaraws got themselves into trouble early on, as skipper Paolo Salenga needed just a couple of minutes to put the Bulldogs in front. Although Audie Menzi leveled things in the 39th minute, NU did not take long to retake the lead, with Patrick Valenzuela making it 2-1 two minutes before the break.
A foul on Josh Mulero inside the penalty box led to the final goal of the match, with Salenga collecting his second goal of the game.
Kim Chul Su had to deal with a shorthanded lineup, as winger Nicolas Ferrer and defender Reymart Cubon sat out the match due to suspension via yellow card accumulation.
In contrast, Ateneo held on to a 1-0 victory over last season's losing finalists UP at the artificial turf of FEU-Diliman.
To the consternation of Feb Baya and the UP crowd attending the match, the referee called a foul that took place inside the box. As a result, Carlo Liay converted the spot kick in the 28th minute for the lone goal of the match.
Liay's penalty could have been the second goal of the game, but Maroon keeper Ace Villanueva blocked Mikko Mabanag's penalty attempt that resulted off of a 20th minute handball.
UP head coach Anto Gonzales tried to find a spark in the second half that would lead to an equalizer, among those was the insertion of Daniel Gadia for Jinggoy Valmayor to kick off the period. Their best chance for scoring took place in the dying minutes, with substitute Alfonso Ancheta providing the chances for his teammates with his free kick chances. However, the back line, led by defender Jeremiah Rocha and netminder JP Oracion, ensured that the Blue Booters will have a clean sheet at the end of the day.
The win allows Ateneo to take solo leadership in the men's football standings with 10 points. It also ended the brief tenure of rivals La Salle atop the league. The Green Booters held the lead for one night, after defeating UE 5-1 on Saturday to reach eight points.
Gelo Diamante scored twice in the win, with his brother Gio adding another one. Jose Montelibano and Nathan Alquiros completed the goal tally, which allows them to have a one-point lead over a three-way tie between FEU, NU, and UP.
In solo sixth place is UST, after securing their first points of the season against Adamson. A 2-1 victory over the winless Falcons ensures the Golden Booters have the advantage of a better goal difference over UE.
On the women's side, Ateneo defeated La Salle, 2-0 on Sunday to join the logjam behind idle UP. Aina Martin gave the Lady Booters the lead after 24 minutes, scoring the first goal off a cross from Mia Catedrilla. Camille Rodriguez would double the lead six minutes later.
The other women's match took place on Saturday afternoon, with defending champion FEU defeating UST, 2-1 in a rematch of last season's finals.
FEU, Ateneo, UST and La Salle each have three points, but that is the current order given tiebreakers.
The final collegiate matches of the calendar year will take place on Thursday afternoon at FEU-Diliman, as Adamson and UP tangle in the opening match at 1pm, followed by UE vs UST at 3pm.
Defending champions FEU stumbled at the Moro Lorenzo Field on Sunday afternoon, bowing to upstart National University, 3-1, at the opening game of the doubleheader at the field inside the campus of Ateneo de Manila University.
The Tamaraws got themselves into trouble early on, as skipper Paolo Salenga needed just a couple of minutes to put the Bulldogs in front. Although Audie Menzi leveled things in the 39th minute, NU did not take long to retake the lead, with Patrick Valenzuela making it 2-1 two minutes before the break.
A foul on Josh Mulero inside the penalty box led to the final goal of the match, with Salenga collecting his second goal of the game.
Kim Chul Su had to deal with a shorthanded lineup, as winger Nicolas Ferrer and defender Reymart Cubon sat out the match due to suspension via yellow card accumulation.
In contrast, Ateneo held on to a 1-0 victory over last season's losing finalists UP at the artificial turf of FEU-Diliman.
To the consternation of Feb Baya and the UP crowd attending the match, the referee called a foul that took place inside the box. As a result, Carlo Liay converted the spot kick in the 28th minute for the lone goal of the match.
Liay's penalty could have been the second goal of the game, but Maroon keeper Ace Villanueva blocked Mikko Mabanag's penalty attempt that resulted off of a 20th minute handball.
UP head coach Anto Gonzales tried to find a spark in the second half that would lead to an equalizer, among those was the insertion of Daniel Gadia for Jinggoy Valmayor to kick off the period. Their best chance for scoring took place in the dying minutes, with substitute Alfonso Ancheta providing the chances for his teammates with his free kick chances. However, the back line, led by defender Jeremiah Rocha and netminder JP Oracion, ensured that the Blue Booters will have a clean sheet at the end of the day.
The win allows Ateneo to take solo leadership in the men's football standings with 10 points. It also ended the brief tenure of rivals La Salle atop the league. The Green Booters held the lead for one night, after defeating UE 5-1 on Saturday to reach eight points.
Gelo Diamante scored twice in the win, with his brother Gio adding another one. Jose Montelibano and Nathan Alquiros completed the goal tally, which allows them to have a one-point lead over a three-way tie between FEU, NU, and UP.
In solo sixth place is UST, after securing their first points of the season against Adamson. A 2-1 victory over the winless Falcons ensures the Golden Booters have the advantage of a better goal difference over UE.
On the women's side, Ateneo defeated La Salle, 2-0 on Sunday to join the logjam behind idle UP. Aina Martin gave the Lady Booters the lead after 24 minutes, scoring the first goal off a cross from Mia Catedrilla. Camille Rodriguez would double the lead six minutes later.
The other women's match took place on Saturday afternoon, with defending champion FEU defeating UST, 2-1 in a rematch of last season's finals.
FEU, Ateneo, UST and La Salle each have three points, but that is the current order given tiebreakers.
The final collegiate matches of the calendar year will take place on Thursday afternoon at FEU-Diliman, as Adamson and UP tangle in the opening match at 1pm, followed by UE vs UST at 3pm.
