Adamson University routed the University of the East (UE), 3-0, to claim its first victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s football tournament, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

Cameroonian striker Golike Dany Doko opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Carl Mahinay doubled the Soaring Falcons’ lead with a 41st-minute strike.

The Falcons missed several opportunities to pad their lead, but Roberto Roldan finally secured their third goal in the 74th minute.

UE also failed to make Adamson pay for not being more clinical in front of goal as they, too, squandered their chances with Karl Festin and Jerome Abarca being unable to convert.

The win also handed Falcons goalkeeper Shane Salarda his first clean sheet of the season.

“Credits to them. You see the way they played, the energy they gave. They came out to win,” said Adamson head coach Dalton Digha.

“It’s not about me, it’s about them. I’m proud of them and I think they played their best game this season.”

The Red Warriors, already without head coach Frank Muescan and defenders Mark Maghinay and Christian Tio — all suspended for their involvement in the last late-match incident against Ateneo de Manila University that led to a three-point deduction — suffered another setback when Keith Hermoso was sent off in stoppage time with a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Adamson, which previously battled to a 2-2 draw with the University of Santo Tomas, will next face the University of the Philippines at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, at the University of the Philippines Football Stadium.

On the same day, UE, still at the bottom of the table, will take on defending champion Far Eastern University at 4:00 p.m. (ABS-CBN News)