De La Salle University has overtaken Ateneo de Manila as the University of the Philippines (UP) ended up in another draw for their sixth in the season in a 1-1 game against the Green Archers in the UAAP men’s football tournament Thursday at the State U.
La Sallian winger Mikio Umilin sank his fourth goal of the season with a well-placed penalty kick in 23rd minute, incurred off a UP handball on a running attack by Vin dela Cruz inside UP’s penalty area.
In the 44th minute, the Fighting Maroons responded with a well-placed header by Francis Tacardon off a lob from left back Emilio Bongolan from top left.
It was Tacardon’s second straight goal, previously scoring the lone winning goal against Adamson University last Sunday.
La Salle’s manager Hans-Peter Smit expressed his satisfaction about earning a point, but commented on his squad’s “lack of finishing” to secure a better advantage than their arch rival.
“We had the last chance, instead of making a drop pass, he took it upon himself [and] he had no angle,” Smit commented, referring to the botched left-side strike by Franck Anoh in La Salle’s final play of the game.
Eight minutes prior to that, UP had the chance to come in front with a direct free kick from Orlan Togores from the top right corner of the penalty box, which was punched out by the towering goalkeeper Enrico Mangaoang.
UP failed again on a set piece as, in the 89th minute, Tacardon skied a strike just behind the six-yard-box from a right corner inswing by Vincent Parpan.
“They dug deep, they suffered a lot [with] three games in one week. They showed really great heart today,” said UP head coach Anto Gonzales.
With the result, both La Salle and Ateneo are at an identical 17 points (five wins, two draws, and two losses), but with La Salle having a one-goal advantage on goal differential over the latter as the Green Archers have a packed three-game schedule to finish the elimination round.
On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons (three wins, six draws, and two losses) are tied with Far Eastern University (four wins, three draws, and two losses) and University of the East (four wins, three draws, and three losses) at 15 points, but UP is at fourth place with a six-goal advantage on goal differential against the Red Warriors.
“We just have to finish the best way we possibly can. We just have to finish the season on a high note,” Gonzales ended on their penultimate game, as the Fighting Maroons could only add a maximum of three tournament points in the season with one game left, to be played on May 4 against the rampaging Tamaraws.
