Substitute Florenz Tacardon scored deep in stoppage time as University of the Philippines escaped with a 2-1 win over University of the East on Thursday night in the UAAP Season 86 men’s football tournament at the UP Football Stadium.
Ramil Bation opened the scoring in the 49th minute, as the Fighting Maroons forward was able to find the back of the net after colliding with Red Warriors keeper Joniel Pamati-an.
UE equalized via a John Magallon’s 80th-minute header and seemed to hold on until Florenz Tacardon produced a late-game magic.
Pamati-an was brilliant in the first half as he foiled Francis Tacardon’s penalty that could have opened the Diliman-based side’s account.
The victory gave UP nine points, one off league-leading Ateneo, which has 10.
The Red Warriors ended their first round stint with three points to show.
Coach Popoy Clariño thought that the Fighting Maroons didn’t deserve to win.
“We lacked the heart to really sacrifice ourselves to play for the team,” said Clariño.
“UE played very well. That goal (by Florenz Tacardon) was just, you know, a bit of luck on our part,” he added.
Earlier, University of Santo Tomas savaged a 1-1 draw to De La Salle to remain within the top four range.
The Golden Booters moved up to seven points, one off the fourth-running Green Booters, who earned a second consecutive draw.
UP will wrap up its first round campaign against Adamson University on Sunday.
