Martin San Diego | FCF
Three golden goals to draw first blood.
These were the points needed by the Far Eastern University (FEU) in gaining the upper hand in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s football finals Game 1, showing no mercy to the handicapped and exhausted University of the Philippines (UP) with a 4-1 rout today at the FEU Diliman field in Quezon City.
FEU’s winning goals came in the 30-minute extension period, with goals from defender Joshua Mulero (101st minute), reserve forward Harold Arcolesa (115th minute), and star forward Jesus Melliza (118th minute).
Martin San Diego | FCF
In the first game, the Lady Tamaraws likewise won Game 1 women’s final via an Ina Araneta header in the 82nd minute for a 1-0 win.
It was a tightly contested game in regulation, though, as the young and zen Tamaraws took control of most possessions in the first half with four shots on goal.
Their first attempt, a calculated strike by Arnel Amita from the right side of the penalty box against heavy traffic, went in the goal for an early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute to pace the Tamaraws’ charge.
FEU then tightened up their defense in the midfield and frontline defense as the Fighting Maroons can’t hit a clear shot on goal.
The Tamaraws, on the other hand, displayed deliberate and efficient offense in contrast with UP’s propensity for long balls and quick plays. They could have buried the Fighting Maroons in the first half but Maroon goalkeeper Nathanael Villanueva deflected three shots on goal as the Tamaraws held on a precarious lead.
In the second half, the Fighting Maroons, who are tied with Ateneo de Manila University as the winningest men’s football team in the UAAP, took more control in their possessions but could not penetrate FEU’s well-placed defense in the box.
As the Maroons seemed to lose the game in the dying seconds of the game, midfielder Carlos Monfort sank an uncontested header in the 89th minute off a loose ball from Michael Simms’ corner kick for the equalizer.
It was a different story in the extension period as the Fighting Maroons fought with a little gas left in their tank while FEU, losing Amita due to cramps, were fresh with five late substitutes.
It was also on that juncture that UP missed the services of suspended team captain Gerardo Valmayor as they could not make an on-target shot on goal.
In the first extension period, Mulero goaled an uncontested strike from the top of the box for a 2-1 lead. The Tamaraws then made mincemeat out of the Maroons with easy goals from Arcolesa and Melliza–goals that happened because of UP’s absent frontline defense in the second period.
Game 2 of both finals series will be on Sunday at the FEU-Diliman field.
[simpleviewer gallery_id=”142″]
