Carino brace keeps Ateneo undefeated

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Men's Football Standings

Ateneo - 12pts (+8)

FEU - 9 pts (+8)

UE - 7 pts (0)

DLSU - 4pts (-4)

UP - 3pts (0)

UST - 3pts (-1)

ADU- 0 pts (-11)

Matches Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

4 p.m. – UE vs UP (Men)

6:30 p.m. – AdU vs UST (Men)

DOV Cariño netted a brace as Ateneo upended defending champion University of the Philippines, 2-0, to seize the lead in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate men's football tournament Thursday night at the UP Football Stadium.

The Blue Eagles claimed the scalp of another Season 86 finalist, with Cariño delivering the goods to improve to 12 points.

"First I'm happy because we got another three points pero there's a lot of improvements na kailangan pang gawin kase sometimes we're good in five minutes sometimes we're not good in 10 minutes so di siya consistent, but the hard work is there. The back line is there to stop UP, but we have to be consistent for all the 45 minutes," said coach JP Merida.

Cariño found the back of the net in the 30th and doubled Ateneo's lead in the 86th minute to hike his goal total this season to four.

Cariño had a chance for a hat-trick at stoppage time but was foiled by Fighting Maroons keeper Fonsy Gonzalez.

"I'm expecting Dov will perform today. I'm expecting kasi he's a different type of player. Me and my coaching staff is very happy with his performance even during training his motovation, he's atmosphere andun talaga. He wants to prove himself sa team," Merida said.

UP remains level with University of Santo Tomas in fifth place with three points but the Diliman-based side is ahead via goal difference.

The Fighting Maroons had the chance for the equalizer in the 42nd minute, but Blue Eagles goalkeeper Artuz Cezar saved Joseph Garces' header.

Ateneo earlier beat last season's runner-up Far Eastern University, 2-1, on Sunday.

UP lost Florenz Tacardon, who left early in the match due to a left foot injury after a bad fall and stayed on the bench in crutches.

The Blue Eagles will have a nine-day break before taking on the Golden Booters on October 20.

The Fighting Maroons will play University of the East on Sunday.