MANILA, Philipines–Rookie Xavi Zubiri’s late goal carried De La Salle to a thrilling 1-0 win over Far Eastern University that clinched the last Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 81 men’s football tournament Thursrday.
Coming off the bench, Zubiri scored his first-ever UAAP goal—and De La Salle’s biggest of the season—from close range in stoppage time, giving the Green Archers 25 points and eliminating University of Santo Tomas from the Final Four race.
“I feel amazing right now,” said Zubiri in a television interview.
Meanwhile, defending champion University of the Philippines barged into the final four after blanking also-ran University of the East, 3-0, in the morning’s match.
The Fighting Maroons finished second in the table with 26 points and set up a showdown with no. 3 Archers in the knockout semifinals next week at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The loss dropped the Tamaraws to fourth spot at 24 points. FEU will take on elimination round topnotcher Ateneo in the other Final Four pairing.