In an intense rematch of last season’s final, Theo Jico Libarnes scored right at the nick of time to earn Far Eastern University a 1-1 draw against University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Libarnes, who comes from FEU-Diliman’s championship program, scored a header in the 90+7 minute of the match to break the hearts of the UP players and supporters at the venue. His last-second leveler made up for his costly first-half miss that could have leveled the game earlier for the Tamaraws.
“Sobrang saya,” said Libarnes after the entertaining rematch of last season’s Final. “Last one minute so parang wala na talagang chance. So yun, kinuha ko lang yung oppurtunity makapunta sa goal at mag-score. Nakaka-overwhelm,” said Libarnes.
As FEU celebrated Libarnes’ equalizer wildly, UP was distraught with how things panned out as the latter failed to capitalize on its strong start to the content.
While Fighting Maroons rookie Joseph Garces broke the deadlock in the ninth minute of the match, his teammates Ramil Bation III, Jan Ceena Donato and Benjamin Palacio all had chances to score the opener beforehand.
UP defender Liam Lampayan had two free kicks to score from in the second half, the first attempt saw him shoot over the bar while the second went straight to FEU goalkeeper Jetrick Fabrigas but Garces’ goal was ultimately enough.
All of those missed chances came back to haunt the Fighting Maroons as the Tamaraws celebrated emphatically once referee John Mike Basinang blew his final whistle.
“It feels like a win,” said coach Roman Oliver, whose Tamaraws finished the first round with 10 points and a plus-6 goal difference behind three wins, two losses and this draw.
“Most of the squad is tired and not 100%. We have some injuries, we lost the captain (Mel Anthony Baylon) with a red card (against UST last Thursday) so everything was against us. We conceded a goal but we stayed strong. We kept on fighting for the ball. We believed in ourselves and in the end, we found the goal at the last minute. It feels like a victory. We are so happy.”
On the other hand, UP will finish the first round against De La Salle University this Thursday at 4 p.m. at the same venue.
The Fighting Maroons will enter that game above the Green Booters in fourth place with the former’s goal difference of plus-3 compared to the latter’s minus-2 separating the two squads, which have seven points each.
Ateneo topped the first round with 15 points with a match at hand against University of the East on Thursday.
