By Vince Matthew Jaramilla

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Booters overcame standings leader Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles, 1-0, guaranteeing themselves a semifinal ticket in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s football tournament earlier tonight, November 21, at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Football Pitch in Quezon City.

The Tamaraw Booters are only the second team after UP to hand the Blue Eagles a loss. 

FEU came out guns blazing with two immediate shots on target in the first two minutes.

The Morayta squad’s aggression continued throughout the early part of the half, keeping the ball on the Katipunan booters’ side and positioning the majority of their players higher on the field.

By the 20-minute mark, the script was flipped as the Eagles threatened the Tamaraw Booters’ goal with two corner kicks. Fortunately, FEU’s defense snuffed out both attempts.

The green-and-gold’s penalty area was filled by blue-and-white shirts once again with a scramble in the 35th minute and free and corner kicks in the 37th. Still, FEU’s goal remained impenetrable.

Despite the defensive challenges, the Morayta-based booters were the first one to convert on offense through an Ace Amita strike off a broken play at the 41-minute mark.

In a post-game interview with FEU Advocate, Amita attributed his point to the concerted effort of the squad.

“‘Di ko naman ‘yun magagawa kung hindi dahil sa team… Nagpursigi kami. Hindi lang ‘yun para [sa’kin] pero para sa buong team (I wouldn’t have been able to score if it weren’t for team. We worked hard. It’s not just for me but for the whole team),” he said.

The Tamaraw Booters got three more offensive chances before the end of the first half with a corner kick and two quick pushes, but the score sat at 1-0.

In the second half, FEU took on a more defensive approach by clogging up the penalty area, opting to preserve their lead rather than expand it.

However, the green-and-gold squad almost lost their lead in the 56th minute after a scramble left their goal keeper-less. Fortunately, their defenders took it upon themselves to cover the target.

Several more pushes came at Tamaraw goalie Mon Diansuy and his fellow defenders, but they continued to be ready to deflect said attacks.

Besides their solid defense, FEU’s fresh legs in forwards Theo Libarnes and Marc Celis also bolstered up their offense in the final 15 minutes, almost enough to pierce through the AdMU goal again.

Through superior play on both ends of the turf, the Tamaraw Booters saw no problem in running away with the victory and surmounting the Blue Eagles.

With Diansuy continuing their clean sheet streak in the second round, the goalie also credited the whole team and showed optimism for their title contention.

“[Thankful] ako sa team kasi hindi ko magagawa ‘yun kung wala ‘yung team. Inaalay ko ‘yung clean sheet ko para maka-help sa team dahil ‘yun ‘yung trabaho ko (I’m thankful for the team because I wouldn’t be able to defend well without them. I offer my clean sheet to help the team because that’s my job)... If we score and we don’t concede [goals], we can get back the championship,” he shared.

Meanwhile, head coach Roman Oliver showed confidence in being prepared to compete moving forward with a sure Final Four spot.

“We are already qualified to the Final Four so [the] first objective is done. It is very important for the feelings of the team to win matches. Four matches in a row without conceding any goal I think we’re in a good way. We’re ready to compete in the next matches and we’re ready for the Final Four,” the lead tactician stated.

Now at a 6-2-2 win-draw-loss card, FEU will look to prove their consistency against De La Salle University on Sunday, November 24, at the same venue.

(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)