By Dugout Philippines
QUEZON CITY--National University and De La Salle savaged draw in their respective matches to remain in joint first place in the UAAP Season 78 men's football tournament on Thursday at the Moro Lorenzo Field.
Skipper Paolo Salenga scored the equalizer in the 58th minute as the 10-man Bulldogs forced defending champion Far Eastern University to a 2-2 draw, while the Green Archers halved a point with University of Santo Tomas following a 1-1 stalemate.
Salenga slotted it home inside the box from a Patrick Valenzuela assist, his third of the season, to tie the match at 2-2.
NU opened the scoring with a Chima Uzoka goal after the Tamaraws keeper Ray Joyel was not solid in his save at the post off a Paolo Salenga free kick in the fifth minute.
Eric Giganto then struck from a corner kick in the 21st minute for FEU to level.
Rookie Rico Andes then netted his third goal of the season in the 36th minute, as the Tamaraws retake the upper hand, 2-1.
The Bulldogs went down to 10 men in the last 45 minutes as Uzoka was sent off in added time of the first half for hitting Paolo Bugas.
NU also made an adjustment at the start of the second half, as goalkeeper Chris Perocho took over in the post from Elijah Aban and found it effective.
After winning their first two matches, the Green Archers found the Growling Tigers a tough customer, as they are now with seven points along with the Bulldogs on top of the table.
It was UST's second consecutive draw after a 2-1 win over Adamson as it climbed to five points.
The Tigers led, 1-0, via a 17th minute goal from John De Castro's header from a corner by Dionisio Busmion.
From a cross by Jed Diamante, Greggy Yang headed the ball to Jose Montelibano, who scored the equalizer for De La Salle just before halftime.
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