Ateneo makes return to UAAP Men's Football Final

c/o UAAP

JET Dela Cruz’s header in the 70th minute sent top-seeded Ateneo de Manila University back into the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Football Final, edging out University of Santo Tomas, 2-1, on Sunday evening at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The Blue Eagles' clinical finish proved to be the game-winner as they booked their spot in the championship match, setting the stage for a rematch with Far Eastern University.

Back in the Season 85 Final, the Tamaraws tormented the Blue Eagles, 4-1.

The Tamaraws earlier triumphed 1-0 over University of the Philippines in the other semifinal.

This time, the Blue Eagles, aiming for a ninth title in the sport, are seeking redemption after the two teams split their elimination matches.

The Final is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. in the same Malate venue.

“It’s a tough game for me; it’s an even game. We won the first round, we lost the second round, so for me this will be a good match. We’re looking forward to play well, of course, on the opposite side, we are looking forward that FEU will play well also. So right now the best thing is to prepare. We need to go back to the screen to check their style going into the very last game,” said Ateneo head coach JP Merida on his thoughts of the Final.

Ateneo took the first encounter, 2-1, on October 6, as part of the first-round sweep, but FEU bagged the 1-0 squeaker in the second round.

The Blue Eagles, who led the league in scoring with 33 goals before the match, showed their offensive prowess early with multiple chances from Cariño and Leo Maquiling proved timely in their repeated attempts, but the Golden Booters did well to delay these attacks.

Against the run of play, a great build play resulted in the go-ahead in the 14th minute for the Ateneo skipper, Maquiling, who recently got a call-up to the national squad. Miguel Bengson had some space in the flank and sent the ball to his captain for the shot.

The match went back and forth from there as UST found chances at the tail end of the first period. Fittingly, in added time, a corner kick from Chris Valderama found Kyler Escobar for the equalizer just before the halftime whistle was blown.

The Blue Eagles were not the best offensive team for nothing as incessant attacks in the second period from the side eventually led to the Dela Cruz winner.

The Golden Booters tried hard to extend the match and their season, but the No. 1 side’s defense proved equal to the chances from TJ Garciano, Escobar, and Valderama, as the final whistle signaled the end of the battle.

“I am very happy that we are playing again in the Final, and, of course, this is one of our objectives: to play the last game in Season 87. Sobrang saya, coming from 81 and coming from last year, I was disappointed in the last two minutes (of the semifinals), so we bounced back and we’re really looking forward to improving. It’s a big game against FEU of course we need to prepare. There’s no tomorrow, there's no either way we need to form our play (against FEU),” Merida added.

Season hosts UP bagged the bronze medal, while UST finished its Cinderella run in fourth.