UAAP men’s football’s Thursday nightcap saw a torrid match between the Far Eastern University (FEU) and archrival University of the East (UE), which ended in a 1-1 draw at the University of the Philippines Football Stadium.

Coming of a 5-1 drubbing of powerhouse La Salle on Sunday’s opener, the Season 81 doormat Red Warriors displayed much athleticism in their frontal attack in the first half anchored on their front two of Edmar Adonis and Jerome Abarca, with the ball distribution of central midfielder Michael Brobbey.

Adonis pierced the back of the net first off a 1v1 attack from the left wing in the 32^nd minute to open the scoring.

The Tamaraws tried to tie two minutes later but the rebound strike of Sherwin Basindanan hit the top rail of the goal.

The same blooper also happened on Abarca, who scored a hat-trick against La Salle, in the 43^rd minute.

Legs betrayed the Red Warriors though as a rejuvenated Tamaraw charge held majority of possessions in the second half, as forward Geri Martini Rey goaled off a long ball from Basindanan issued from the top right flank to tie the game.

Cheap shots and flops added to drama midway in the half resulting in five yellow cards issued on both squads.

An exhausted Adonis tried to equalize in the 82^nd minute but his running strike from point blank off John Lester Carandang flew way above the goal.

While the game ended in a draw, some players of both squads still engaged in a shouting match before security separated the belligerents.

“It was our fault to start slow in the first half. We just had to clarify the defensive roles and I think we needed to show a little muscle also,” said FEU head coach Vince Santos after the game.

“We need to start tough early,” Santos emphasized.

For UE head coach Fitch Arboleda, the Red Warriors need to “sustain the energy,” which was “lost in the second half.”

“Yung bench ko they can start naman a game pero nakulangan ako ng impact sa players off the bench. Kaya yung sustainability ng energy, kailangan naming ayusin next game,” Arboleda said.

Photos by Ronin Bautista