Ateneo de Manila University is now a win away from dethroning defending men’s football champions University of the Philippines, following their close victory in Game 1 of their best-of-three title showdown on a rainy Thursday afternoon.

Backed by a throng of their livid supporters on their home turf at the Moro Lorenzo Field, the Blue booters snatched the victory via penalties, 4-3.

Despite the Fighting Maroons claiming an early 33rd minute lead courtesy of Vincent Aguilar, second year man Yu Murayama connected on an 83rd minute equalizer that sent the game into a 30 minute extra session.

But when neither team managed to convert on numerous attempts on goal in the extension, Game One went down to a shootout.

Following Gabriel Mendoza’s missed penalty kick attempt, it was fitting that regulation time hero Murayama would seal the Eagles’ victory with a swift dead-center strike that hit the back of the net.

Tournament leading scorer Jinggoy Valmayor sat out the match due to an automatic one-game suspension meted on the striker due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Game 2 will be on Sunday, 2:00pm at the Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo.