By Kevin Estrada
MANILA -- A pair of interesting results capped off Sunday's UAAP men's football as the first round comes into the homestretch here at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Titleholders UP were made to sweat against a game Adamson side before scraping past them for a 2-1 win in the first game that saw them get 3 more points to close out their first round with 14 points.
In a battle between contrasting styles of football, Kyle Magdato's 39th minute opener was canceled out by Bless Brian Jumo II at the stroke of half-time, before Ian Clariño nabbed the winner in the 55th minute for the Fighting Maroons.
Carl Viray's netminding could serve as a moral win for Nolan Manito's Falcons, in which the junior shot-stopper had half of UP's 18 shots on target on his gloves, as they end the first round with a solitary win after seven matches.
On the nightcap, UE gave Ateneo a massive favor after battling 10-man FEU to a shocking 1-1 stand off between the two U-Belt sides, with Mar Diano's 5th minute strike was canceled out by Audie Menzi's 40-yard screamer of a free kick from the right wing.
The Tamaraws, who are missing Paolo Bugas on injury on that match, will have to miss John Saldivar for their final round 1 encounter with the Blue Eagles on Friday owing to his dismissal for a second bookable offence in the 88th minute.
Those results have the past two champions level on 14 points, with UP leapfrogging FEU on goal difference for the second spot but the latter had a match on hand against the league leaders on March 10 to complete their first round assignments.
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