UAAP: Maquiling keeps his nerve as Ateneo downs UE

Ateneo's Leo Maquiling celebrates after converting a spot kick against UE in the UAAP Season 87 men's football tournament, Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP MediaMANILA -- Leo Maquiling showed great poise in converting from the spot twice to spearhead Ateneo de Manila University's 3-1 win against the University of the East on Sunday in the UAAP Season 87 men's football tournament.

Maquiling converted penalty kicks in the 18th and 41st minutes, putting Ateneo ahead after they had conceded early in the match.

"I'm happy that I finally scored this season," said the BS Management student. "At least we won our last game in the first round. There are a lot of improvements to be made but a goal is a goal. I'm happy I was able to score those goals."

An own goal by UE's Mark Maghinay in first-half stoppage time gave the Blue Eagles a two-goal cushion.

The Red Warriors had their chances to trim the deficit, but Ateneo goal-keeper Artuz Cezar was up to the task against Jerome Abarca and Mark Joshua Sedeng.

"We're happy that we won all of the games in the first round," said Coach JP Merida. "But on the flip side, I'm not really happy with this performance because we started slow. I think the good thing there was we got two penalties plus one own goal in the first half. In the second half, we didn't capitalize on our chances, and we need to improve on that coming into the second round."

Ateneo swept the first round to finish on top of the table with 18 points and a goal difference of plus-12.

UE remained in sixth place at the end of round one with seven points and a minus-5 GD.