Tams extend men's football finals

Far Eastern University went to old reliable Jason Cordova to defeat University of Santo Tomas, 1-0, and extend their 72nd UAAP men's football championship series to a rubber match at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City.

Cordova, who had five goals during the elimination round, scored the game's solitary goal on a long pass by Jonie Lopez in the 22nd minute as the Tamaraws kept their title hopes alive.

The winner-take-all match is set for Sunday at 2pm, following the women's clash between La Salle and UST at 9am. The Tigresses kept their title-retention bid as Marianne Narciso scored two goals in a 2-0 victory.

But FEU's win proved to be too costly as Cordova will be suspended for Sunday's match after he was assessed with a red card for roughhousing UST's Shinmar Felongco in second half.

Aside from that, FEU's Joshua Almenar and Romnick Jover were given yellow cards for the second time this season meaning that the squad of coach Rodolfo Alicante will have to work doubly hard to win their first title since 2008.

"Malaking adjustment ang gagawin namin sa Linggo," said Alicante. "We have to limit yung mga cross at long ball nila (UST) just like what we did today."

It was the first loss for the Tigers this season. They breezed through the elimination round with eight wins and two draws for 26 points to gain top spot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals.

UST and FEU went to a scoreless draw in the first round before the former posted a 3-1 victory last Sunday on the last day of the elims.

With his suspension, Cordova, a former national team member, played his last match with the Morayta-based booters. He didn't play last season after trying his luck to play for a club team in Australia.

FEU, who made it to the finals for the fourth consecutive year, is seeking to win its first title since 2008 when it beat Ateneo.