UE blanks NU to take solo lead in UAAP football; Ateneo triumphs

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MANILA, Philippines — From dead last to league leader.

University of the East’s campaign so far in the UAAP season 76 men’s football has been a stark contrast from last year as the Warriors padded on to their lead with a 2-0 blanking of National University on Friday at the FEU-Diliman field.

The Warriors Booters are now 3-0, good for nine points and a place at the top spot, which comes as a surprise after managing just one point in 12 matches last season.

“We just continue to work hard, and I keep on reminding my boys to stay humble,” head coach Ryan Marinay told INQUIRER.net in Filipino.

Fitch Arboleda collected his fourth goal of the season, leading all scorers so far. The senior striker, after misfiring on a header four minutes earlier, slotted in the goal in the 55th minute.

UE’s rookie Jo Nia-O Malen doubled the lead in the 66th minute, slipping past the Bulldogs’ defense for the goal.

“We really just held on it, because all our opponents are strong,” Marinay said. “They kept on attacking us early, and I think we also got lucky.’’

The Bulldogs, after holding University of Santo Tomas to a draw last Tuesday, dropped their second assignment.

Ateneo, meanwhile, barged into the winning column after nipping the Golden Booters, 1-0, on a goal from Jacobo Lorenzo in the 26th minute.

But it doesn’t get any easier for the Blue Booters, who lost a couple of key guys over the off season, as they face the Warriors next on Tuesday.