The Far Eastern University (FEU) men’s football team settled the game against the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) at a 1-1 draw in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 81 men’s football tournament, February 24, at the FEU Diliman football field in Quezon City.

The Tamaraws wanted to extend their winning streak to two after winning their last game against the University of the East (UE), however, FEU now has to settle for a 1-1-0 win-draw-loss record in the UAAP.

“Actually, our players were okay, Ateneo did a little bit more [on their] defense. They were well prepared on our team, and unfortunately, we missed our chances,” FEU head coach Bobae Park expressed.

According to Park, this game, as compared to the Philippines versus Korea in the Asian Cup where the Philippines would stay low and keep the strikers just under the half court line, was the same situation against Ateneo for they were making it difficult for his booters to score.

The game started slowly after the tip-off as both teams showed their aggressiveness in defending one another. In result, both teams had slim chances to take the lead in the first half. To sum up the trend in the early-goings of the match, in one particular sequence, a Geri Rey strike almost gave FEU the lead.

At the 44th minute of the 90-minute match, however, FEU drew first blood in the game with Renz Saldivar’s goal assisted by Gio Pabualan to put their team up, 1-0.

FEU upped their defensive intensity in the second half, trying to protect their 1-0 lead. Ateneo’s star striker, Jaryvey Gayoso’s goal almost tied the game, but it was spoiled by FEU’s goalkeeper, Dave Parac.

“As coach Bobae said doon sa meeting namin kanina, mentality ng game, lamang namin 1-0 so dapat more focus pa, at last five minutes dapat hindi mag-give up hanggang sa final whistle (As coach Bobae said in our meeting earlier, mentality of the game, our lead is 1-0, so more focus, no one should give up in the first five minutes and last five minutes until the final whistle is blown),” Parac said.

It was the FEU’s defensive players who kept their lead, up until Julian Roxas brought the equalizer in the 85th mark.

On the other end, the Tamaraws continued their defensive game plan up to the final whistle. The defensive players of FEU kept snatching Ateneo’s chance of getting a goal.

Moreover, due to the highly-physical atmosphere in the game, goalkeeper Parac suffered a blow in his right eyebrow while catching the ball to keep the Blue Eagles from scoring.

The green-and-gold booters squad will be back on the field on February 28 against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) at the same venue.

- Joaquin Luis E. Quesada
(See full album: UAAP 81 Men's Football - FEU vs Ateneo)