PFF U22: One Surigao steals a point against Bukidnon 2-2

Surigao City - One Surigao was able to steal a point from the Bukidnon side in a dramatic fashion as it tries to show a respectable finish in the ongoing PFF Smart Under 22 Championships. 

Bouyed by their opening day conquests of Butuan/Agusan del Norte FA, Bukidnon lost no time in unleashing its attack on One Surigao team.  Not long thereafter, Bukidnon scored its first goal courtesy of left wing Marc Joseph Macabale in the 7th minute. Ten minutes later, his teammate Clint Agustin Timones added another goal in the 17th minute to complete their shock and awe treatment on the clueless hosts. 

Clint Agustin Timones score the opening goal for Bukidnon

It looks like One Surigao is resigned to another frustrating day when their hope came alive in the added time when Alberto Echin Jr. outsmarted the goalkeeper who rush to him by beating him and scored on an empty net.  

Goalkeeper Raneil Tare celebrated after Echin scored the opening goal for One Surigao before halftime 

Bukidnon resumed their dangerous attacks on One Surigao goal in the second half. But good defense coupled with great stops by goalkeeper Reneil Tare and One Surigao kept the visitors at bay. 

Bukidnon suffered a setback in the second half when striker Clayton Bhai ask to be relieved after suffering an injury.  Few minutes after Bhai's relief, all hell broke loose when Jerald Anghag scored a spectacular shot in the 64th minute. 

Set up from midfield, Anghag received the ball which bounced cleanly above his head. Sensing an opportunity, Anghag unleashed an acrobatic bicycle shot that sent the hometown crowd into frenzy. One Surigao completed a monumental comeback against a very talented Bukidnon IX. 

One Surigao players whoop it up after Anghag scored an equalizer

Both teams tried to breakaway from a looming draw, with Bukidnon getting a good share of opportunities including the one when Tare missed the ball, only to find a very late Bukidnon attacker before it went out of line. 

Both teams settled for a draw. All is not lost however for Bukidnon, as it still can win the No. 1 spot when it will tackle undefeated Iligan in the first encounter this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. With four points, Bukidnon can overtake Iligan which has 6 points with a win today catapulting it to 7 points.  For Iligan, all it has to do is to force a draw and it will qualify to the national finals in Bacolod on February 2016. 

One Surigao on the other hand will try to win its game today against Butuan and can finish second place depending on the outcome of the Bukidnon-Iligan game. Or it might end up last should it will lose to the still winless Butuan City in their 3:30 encounter today. 

Bukidnon 2-2 One Surigao 

Bukidnon FA: Marc Joseph Macabale 7'; Clint Agustin Timones 17' 
One Surigao: Alberto Echin Jr. 45+'; Jerald Anghag 64'