MANILA -- Gleydile Añonuevo scored a late equalizer to propel the University of Santo Tomas to a 2-2 draw with De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 87 women's football tournament, Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Añonuevo found the back of the net in the 83rd minute as UST earned just their second point of the season.
La Salle has now recorded back-to-back draws, as they were coming off a 1-1 stalemate against Far Eastern University in a rematch of last season's final to end the first round.
"Malakas talaga yung team ng La Salle eh, mas lalo na dahil sa national team players nila," said UST head coach Marjo Allado.
"Throughout the game, yung girls naunahan ng score," he noted. "Pero hindi sila nag-give up, and na-survive namin 'yung 90 minutes."
Gleydile Añonuevo of UST celebrates her late goal against La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 women's football tournament, November 9, 2024 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP MediaAñonuevo's goal turned out to be the final word in a four-game thriller.
Arantxa Trebol opened the scoring for La Salle 63 minutes on, only for UST to equalize through substitute Rojana Nemenzo in the 73rd minute.
Shai del Campo responded just five minutes later, putting the Lady Booters back ahead. But La Salle couldn't hold onto the lead as Añonuevo made sure the two squads would share the spoils.
"Ang pinakamagandang nangyari tonight is, yun nga, sabi ko dun sa La Salle, dahil dito sa draw binigyan niyo ng confidence players ko," said Allado. "I know naman La Salle will go up sa championship pero malaking bagay yung pag-draw against La Salle eh."
La Salle had beaten UST 2-0 when they met in the first round last September 20.