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UAAP Men’s Football: UP comes back to down FEU, seals finals date with Ateneo

This 2013 UP Maroon Booters team just doesn't know when its beaten.

On a blustery Sunday in Ateneo's Moro Lorenzo Field the two-time defending Senior's champions overturned a 1-0 deficit to win their semifinal decider against FEU, 2-1, and punch their finals ticket against Ateneo.

UP answered FEU's 22nd minute strike from Jonjon Melliza with a header from Boiboi Fernandez in the 64th minute.

Then twenty minutes into extra time substitute Gabe Mendoza's close-range left-footer beat Tams keeper Michael Menzi for the winner.

It's another remarkable moment for the champs, who have survived a rollercoaster of a season to reach the cusp of a third title in as many years.

On the flip side it's a cruel ending for FEU, a team that in terms of technical skill, has no equal in the league. Melliza scored his league-leading 22nd goal of the campaign but the 23rd that would have forced a penalty shootout never came, and he and his mates, so adept at possessing and passing the ball, were reduced to tears at the final whistle.

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Among FEU's players, centerback Amani Aguinaldo seemed the most distraught, still covering his eyes with his shirt fifteen minutes after the game concluded.

FEU, as they did for the previous two meetings between the clubs, dominated possession and had most of the chances.

Melliza opened the scoring with a turn-and-shot off a great ball from Paolo Bugas halfway through the first half.

Eric Giganto could have doubled the lead twelve minutes later but his long-range missile was saved well by Ace Villanueva.

Just before the half UP coach Anto Gonzales relieved midfielder Vincent Aguilar with Daniel Gadia, the first of two brilliant substitutions that would change the course of the match.

In the 64th minute UP leveled when Jinggoy Valmayor curled in a free kick that centerback Fernandez headed downwards into the net, beyond the grasp of Menzi.

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FEU then redoubled its efforts with Giganto shooting wide again and the midfield involved in a ten to twelve pass sequence that ended with a Melliza blocked kick near the edge of the penalty area.

A minute later Giganto squandered a volley chance off a rebound from a Melliza chip off the crossbar.

Gonzales then introduced Mendoza in for James Condat, with the instructions to use his speed.

The score stood at 1-1 after 90 minutes and in the third minute of extra time FEU's Noli John Chavez was given his second yellow card after a rash foul on Valmayor.

The defender, an early sub for the injured Patrick Rallos, was thus shown a red card, reducing FEU to ten men and blunting the right side of their defense. It was a loss that would haunt them.

Even with just ten men, FEU surged forward, with Nicolas Ferrer, Bugas, and Giganto wasting attempts.

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Then the irrepressible Valmayor found space in the penalty box, offloaded to Gadia, who then found an unmarked Mendoza in the six yard box on the left.

The second-year Sports Science student blasted it home for the go-ahead goal.

The Tamaraws desperately clawed for an equalizer, but Chy Villasenor, Bugas, substitute Jason Lofranco, and Amel Amita all missed the mark.

When referee Jimmy Liman whistled for the end of the match the UP players whooped it up on the field with their fans while the Tams crumpled to the turf in sobs.

FEU had previously beaten UP 3-0 and 5-1, and yet it is the Maroons, and not the Tams who face Ateneo in the best-of-three finals series that begins on Thursday. Ateneo didn't need their twice-to-beat advantage in beating La Salle via penalties in their semifinal.

FEU and UP finished at 25 points after the regular season, both behind top-seeded Ateneo. The teams then met in a playoff to determine which team would get the 2nd seed and the twice-to-beat advantage that goes with it, before playing again.

UP defeated FEU 2-0 in the playoff before FEU forced the decider with a big 5-1 victory last Thursday.

“It was a really tough game but we wanted it more and we worked for it” said Valmayor, who was held scoreless, but influenced both UP goals.

“I am satisfied with how my boys responded from the 5-1 loss” said a beaming Gonzales. “Iba ang spirit ng mga bata. Alam nila na kaya nila.”

The UP coach also mentioned that he would give his Man Of The Match award to “either of the centerbacks (Deo Segunial and Fernandez)” then added “I guess Boiboi, because he scored.”

OTHER NOTES: The entire goalkeeping corps of the Loyola Meralco Sparks was involved in this game. Menzi is their third choice keeper, while regular goalies Ref Cuaresma and Mark Sorongon were the keeper coaches for UP and FEU respectively.... A UP fan raced across the field after Mendoza's goal, chased by a security guard. If it were up to me he will be banned from watching the finals live.... The new Moro Lorenzo field has gone from bad to worse. It's soft, sandy and grassless in much of the center of the pitch and in my opinion the final should be kicked upstairs to the Ocampo Field.... As exciting as this finish was for UP, it wasn't their most dramatic ending this season. That honor goes to their final round two game against DLSU, when Valmayor scored a 93rd minute winner as they beat DLSU 2-1 to finish level on points with FEU. Had they not won that match they would have probably gone up against Ateneo and their twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.... Studio 23 will air the UAAP Men's and Women's Final on a delayed telecast basis. Darren Hartmann and I will provide the commentary. In the Women's division, FEU takes on DLSU. The finals for both begin on Thursday.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.