By Aine Peralta
Just days after sharing points in their previous outing, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Booters watched their comeback victory slip away after Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles forced a 2-2 draw in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s football tourney earlier today, November 8, at the University of the Philippines Football Pitch in Quezon City.
FEU was pushed onto the back foot early as Ateneo opened the match with an aggressive press.
The Tamaraws’ backline held firm in the 20th minute when winger Andre Yu made a vital recovery run just in time to stop Blue Eagle Diego Angeles from turning in a dangerous Dov Cariño setup.
Ateneo sustained the offensive blitz just four minutes later, with Cariño whipping another dangerous ball into the box. However, FEU keeper Jetrick Fabrigas came up with a sharp save to neutralize the threat and keep the match deadlocked.
Physicality picked up at the half-hour mark when Katipunan-based booter Alexander Santos received a yellow card in the 30th minute following a heavy collision with green-and-gold captain Selwyn Mamon.
The foul earned the Tamaraws a set piece in the following minute, but free-kick specialist Edgar Aban’s strike was held back by the opponent’s defensive wall.
FEU found its groove in the 36th minute through co-captain Karl Absalon’s orchestrated back-to-back attacks, first whipping a cross to Mamon inside the box before setting up Yu for a shot that soared over the crossbar.
Despite the team’s offensive surge, the Blue Eagles drew first blood in the 42nd minute as rookie Umi Abelarde finished a one-touch opportunity, sending the Tamaraws into halftime trailing, 0-1.
Returning in the second half with heightened urgency, the Morayta-based squad erased the deficit in the 63rd minute when substitute McJay Neniel wove past four Ateneo defenders before converting Kian Niu’s assist to level the score, 1-1
Capitalizing on the momentum, Absalon delivered a delicate flick in the 65th minute to set up Jerby Anito for the tap-in, completing a rapid 2-1 turnaround.
However, Ateneo’s 75th-minute equalizer spoiled the green-and-gold squad’s surge as Andrei Gonzales slotted home a pass from Rens Partosa past Tamaraw keeper Fabrigas, 2-2.
Addressing the team's defensive coordination, FEU head coach Vincent Santos emphasized their ongoing efforts to eliminate miscommunications along the backline.
"What we're trying to address has been early organization and then the attitude of attacking the ball, coordinating whose responsibility it is. I think in the previous matches leading up [to this,] we had some confusion there, but slowly — I'm not sure if nearly enough — we've addressed it in training, and I hope we're able to execute the effort," he shared in a post-game interview with FEU Advocate.
The stalemate moved the Tamaraws to a 2-3-3 win-draw-loss record heading into their next clash against top-seeded Adamson University on Thursday, November 12, at the same venue.
(Photo by Jhanraine Manansala/FEU Advocate)