Jose Pleños struck in the 84th minute to give University of the Philippines a 1-0 win over Adamson University on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, a result that rearranged the UAAP men's football standings in the Season 89 Collegiate Men's Football Tournament.
The Fighting Maroons had lost the first-round meeting 2-1 on October 25, a result that allowed the Soaring Falcons to finish the opening round on top. Sunday's defeat ended Adamson's six-game unbeaten run.
UAAP men's football standings after the late winner
UP now leads the table with 17 points, with Adamson dropping to second on 16. The gap is a single point, and both schools still have Far Eastern University on their remaining schedules.
How the winner arrived
Pleños, a rookie from Claret School of Quezon City, broke the deadlock in the 84th minute. The goal came from a set piece that stemmed from a long throw-in by teammate Jian Caraig.
Chances at both ends
Adamson's Dany Golike, a 21-year-old Cameroonian forward, nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a long-range attempt that narrowly missed the target. He kept searching for an equaliser after the break with two more attempts but could not get past UP goalkeeper Will Oberes.
At the other end, Joshua Garces came close to putting UP ahead in the 27th minute, only for Adamson goalkeeper CJ Lauron to deny his header with a quick save. Oberes, filling in for the ill Fonzy Gonzales, recorded his first clean sheet of the season.
Clarino on control and resilience
"Last game, we were sloppy, and with the sloppiness, we didn't have the balance to stop their counterattacks," said coach Popoy Clarino.
"Today, we had more control; we were more compact towards the end. It was just the resiliency of the players—not giving up, working together, and encouraging one another."
Clarino also credited the opponent's position at the top of the table, saying both sides deserved the three points and that Adamson had been setting the standard.
"Both teams deserve those three points. Adamson was on top of the table, so they're setting the standard right now, but we're here to compete."
Analysis: what the one-point margin means
With 17 points against 16, UP's advantage is narrow enough that the return fixtures against FEU carry real weight for both clubs. The result also confirms that Adamson's first-round form has not yet translated into a cushion at the top.
What to watch next
UP will enjoy a week-long break before returning to action against Far Eastern University on November 15 at 2:00 p.m. Adamson will look to bounce back when it faces FEU this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The original report was published by tiebreakertimes.com.ph.
