Empleo’s late strike lifts Adamson
ROQUE Empleo Jr’s late strike earned Adamson a 1-1 draw against University of the East in the UAAP men’s football tournament in a duel of also-rans Sunday at the UP Football Stadium.
Empleo unleashed a free kick from way outside the box that went past Red Warriors goalkeeper Joniel James Pamati-an to score the Falcons’ equalizer in the 88th minute.
The goal snapped Adamson’s four-match losing streak and pushed them to go for all three points late in the game, but attempts from Jhon Devon Coquilla and Nikko Arañas failed to hit the back of the net.
“Pag hindi pa ako mag-risk na i-direcho po sa goal, baka pagsisihan ko pa po,” said Empleo, who hails from Barotac Nuevo. “Instinct nalang po siguro. Nagtitiwala ako sa skills ko na kakayanin kong derechohin kaya naka-score din po.”
The Falcons, who played today without their head coach Darlton Digha due to his external commitments, improved their points tally to three in seventh place but are now out of the running for a Final Four ticket.
Adamson will try to pull a reversal against defending champion Far Eastern University on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the same Diliman venue.
On the other hand, the Red Warriors looked set to take all three points just like in their 2-0 win over the Falcons last February 25 in the first round after they took the lead in the second half.
Edmar Adonis turned in Nikko Palacio’s free kick in the 67th minute, but UE failed to hold on this time around.
Despite the outcome, coach Frank Muescan was happy with the way the Red Warriors, who remained in sixth place with four points, played on the pitch amid their exclusion as well from this year’s Final Four race.
“It happens in the game eh. Everything is unpredictable,” said Muescan. “At the end of the day, the boys played well. This was the best I’ve seen the boys. Nag-improve talaga sila from the past games. It’s a good sign for us kahit hindi na kami papasok diyan sa top four.”
Matches Thursday
(UP Football Stadium)
4 p.m. – AdU vs FEU (Men)
6:30 p.m. – UST vs Ateneo (Men)
