Blue Booters come close but not quite

This appears in ateneo.edu

Blue Booters come close but not quite

Ateneo 0 vs UP 1

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales

January 19, 2011

Erenchun Field

The Ateneo Blue Booters took to the soggy Erenchun Field pitch against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last Wednesday January 19. Only three days earlier, they absorbed one of the worst drubbings ever with a 5-1 loss to De La Salle.

When they took to the field, the loss was but a memory and the only indication that it happened was that many of the players shaved their heads.

While playing in the rain and mud might not necessarily favor any team, it did take a higher toll on the Maroons’ finely tuned ground passing game.

Unable to get inside, the Maroons took several long-range shots towards the Ateneo goal. Twice in the first half did the ball hit the crossbar where it ricocheted outwards.

Holding UP scoreless early on gave the Blue Booters a little more confidence. And Ateneo coach Arnulfo Merida moved up Jacobo Lorenzo from the midfield to the top striker position and it worked wonders as they found the gap for some attacks.

As well as Ateneo was playing, UP made the home field team pay for one mistake when Maroons’ midfielder Nathan Octavio saw Blue Eagle goalkeeper Joel Faustino off his line. The veteran UP player chipped the ball up high using his right foot – which isn’t his stronger one – and it curved in while Faustino scrambled back albeit too late.

Unlike in the La Salle match where one could feel Ateneo’s hearts sink after the first goal, this time they redoubled their efforts and actually dominated possession in the second half.

The Maroons, who won the Men’s Football crown two years ago, also had their chances but the crossbar and some nifty defending and goalkeeping turned away those dangerous volleys.

The Blue Booters had three chances to equalize or even take the lead but Mar Marcelo’s close range shot hit a UP defender and two brilliant crosses by Anton Amistoso went for naught when Gab Siojo slipped and was unable to poke the ball through.

Despite the loss that saw Ateneo remain at the cellar of the six-team field, the team came away with more confidence. 

“We had our chances,” rued Merida. “But I am happy with the boys’ effort. I know they took the loss to La Salle hard but they know they are better than that. This is the result. Now if they continue to work harder meron din ibubuga itong team na ‘to.”