INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines— Yu Murayama came up
big twice and Ateneo clipped reigning titlist University of the Philippines,
4-3, in a penalty shootout in game one of the UAAP season 75 men’s football
finals at the Moro Lorenzo Field in the Loyola-based campus.
Murayama, who is on his third playing
year, scored the winning penalty for the Blue Booters as Gabe Mendoza had the
fifth penalty for the Maroons blocked by Nicholas O’Donnel.
UP’s goalkeeper Tyrone Caballes fell right
into Murayama’s trap.
“He knows kung paano ako sumipa so I tried
to put it in the middle. I knew he would go for my stong side,” Murayama told
the reporters after the game.
The score was locked at 1-1 in regulation
time, with Ateneo equalizing as Murayama scored on a header off a cross from
Christopher Sumulong in the 83rd minute.
“My goal wouldn’t be possible without the
cross,” added the 24-year-old Murayama.
The Maroons, meanwhile, held a 3-2 lead in
penalty shootout as Reymark Fernandez converted his kick and Mico Mabanag missed
for the Blue Eagles.
But just like in regulation where it took
a 1-0 lead on a goal from Vincent Aguilar in the 33rd minute, UP squandered its
edge in penalty shooutout.
Carlo Liay, who—according to coach John
Paul Merida—was playing with an injury all game, tied it 3-3 for Ateneo, which
never looked back from there.
The Blue Booters, who are gunning for
their sixth overall title, were even down to ten men in the 30-minute extra time
as Christian Noel was sent off for two yellow cards.
“I told the boys na pilitin nalang kasi
last two games namin ‘to. Pipilitin naming matapos next game,” said Merida, wary
of Jinggoy Valmayor’s return.
The Maroons’ star striker served out a
one-game suspension for his second yellow cards in the semifinals.
Ateneo’s Eric Figueroa, Miguel Tuazon also
converted their first two attemps for Ateneo while UP got goals from Deo
Segunial, Fe Baya before Michael Simms’ miss.
In the women’s finals Game one, Far
Eastern University routed La Salle, 5-0, also at the Moro Lorenzo field.
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