MANILA, Philippines - Jinggoy Valmayor bailed University of the Philippines out with a late goal to salvage a 3-3 draw with defending champion Far Eastern University and seize the lead in the UAAP Season 77 men’s football tournament yesterday at the FEU-Diliman pitch.
The Tamaraws were seconds away from forcing a three-way tie on top of the table until Valmayor, on a free kick from long range, found the back of the net on stoppage time to give the Fighting Maroons a point.
“That’s what you can expect from him,” said UP coach Anto Gonzales on Valmayor, who now had 11 goals this season. “I think, we put a lot of pressure on FEU when they went down to 10 players.”
The Maroons now have 21 points, a point clear of second-running La Salle.
“I’m not really happy right now, especially in the second half. I was happy the way we played in the first half. I’ll take the draw, but more than anything else, we need to improve,” said Gonzales.
The Tamaraws, who remained at fourth with 18 points, took a 3-2 lead after Noli Chavez, with his great presence of mind, struck on the 55th minute.
Earlier, Lawrence Colina scored two penalty kicks as National University kept within reach of FEU with 17 points as it bucked the absence of suspended ace Paolo Salenga with a 3-1 victory over last place Adamson.
Nicolas Ferrer scored on a diving header from a Jess Melliza cross in the 13th minute to open the scoring for the Tamaraws.
UP then scored the equalizer after Valmayor headed home on the 25th minute, soaring over Audie Menzie, Justin Calamba and FEU keeper Patrick Rallos.
Off a Daniel Gadia corner, Feb Baya converted a header from Carlos Monfort assist to give the Maroons a 2-1 lead on the 29th minute before the Tamaraws restored parity seven minutes later after Melliza scored the penalty kick.