ARELLANO University bungled a two-goal edge, a chance of snaring a victory and the solo lead after it was held to a 2-2 draw by Lyceum in the seniors’ division of the 93rd NCAA football competition at the Rizal Memorial Complex grounds Monday night.
The Chiefs struck hard early as they zoomed to a 2-0 lead on goals by national junior standout Roberto Corsame, Jr. and Randy Guinabang on the 38th and 56th minute, respectively, but floundered in the end after Levi Malihan and Dan Paul Alegre answered with goals of their own on the 69th and 88th to salvage a draw.
The draw gave AU a point to improve to 10 match points for a share of the top spot with College of St. Benilde.
The Blazers, however, had better goal differential, 21-6, to hang on to the No. 1 spot.
A victory though would have catapulted the Chiefs to the top and would have been a fitting follow up to their stunning 2-1 win over the San Beda Red Booters, the reigning titlists, Thursday.
San Beda sprung back to life and steamrolled Perpetual Help, 9-0, to remain just a point off the pace with nine.
Nimrod Balabat fired a hat trick, scoring on the seventh, 71st and 72nd while James Pagsanjan chipped in a brace on the 48th and 61st.
Aljo Paul Zabala, Adolfo Abada, Eric Manlapas and James Michael Eje accounted for the Red Booters’ other goals.
LPU kept its grip on the No. 4 spot with five points.
In the only other game, Mapua posted its first win by turning back Emilio Aguinaldo, 2-1.
With Mapua’s Rosstel Mallare (15th) and EAC’s Marvin Lianza (33rd) exchanging goals, Antonnie Gal Cabra entered the fray and blasted away with turned out the match-clinching rocket seconds before stoppage time.
