Far Eastern University forced a rubber match for the 72nd UAAP men’s football crown after beating top-seeded University of Santo Tomas, 1-0, Thursday at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City.

Former national team member Jason Cordova scored the game’s solitary goal off a long pass from Jonie Lopez in the 22nd minute to help the Tamaraws force a winner-take-all contest.

But the win also came at a heavy price as Cordova, playing his final year, will be suspended for tomorrow’s match after he was assessed with a red card for hurting Shinmar Felongco in the second half.

If that was not enough, teammates Joshua Almenar at Romnick Jover will likewise join Cordova after they were given yellow cards during the contest. Both players committed the said infractions for the second time this season which meant a one-game suspension.

“Kahit nanalo kami, malaking kawalan sila sa amin sa next game,” said FEU mentor Rodolfo Alicante. “Malaking adjustments ang gagawin namin at kailangan matigil ulit namin ang UST sa depensa.”

It was the first defeat of the Tigers this season after posting eight wins and two draws during the elimination round. That helped them gain the first finals slot and a twice-to-beat advantage against FEU.

Meanwhile, UST tries to win its first title since 2007 when it battles top-seed La Salle this Saturday in Game 2 of their women’s volleyball finals series at The Arena in San Juan. The Tigresses won in four sets to grab the series opener.

The league will also formally award FEU’s Cherry May Vivas as surprise winner of the first-ever season MVP award despite her team’s failure to make it to the Final Four. The Lady Tams finished with a dismal 6-8 record for fifth place.

Vivas beat out favorites Stephanie Mercado of La Salle, UST’s tandem of Aiza Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero, Ateneo’s Angeline Gervacio and Adamson’s Angela Benting, who all led their respective teams to the Final Four. (Jonas Terrado, Tempo Sports)