La Salle nears leaders

WITH Ateneo and Far Eastern U playing to a standoff, La Salle closed in on the leaders with a 2-0 victory over National U Thursday in the UAAP Season 75 men’s football tournament at Ateneo’s Erenchun Field.

Federico Rabaya bagged a brace for coach Hans Smit’s side, which moved within a point off second-running FEU after jacking up its tally to 21 points.

The Eagles and Tamaraws earlier fought to an emotional 1-1 draw that was marred by the dismissal of FEU assistant coach Vince Santos.

Two-time defending champion University of the Philippines leaned on a brace from Jinggoy Valmayor to repulse University of the East (UE), 2-0.

The win tightened UP’s grip of the fourth and last semifinal spot.

Despite the draw, Ateneo stayed on top with 24 points. The top two teams will earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.

Rabaya opened the scoring for the Archers with a fifth minute strike, before doubling his tally seven minutes after the restart.