Socceroo routs All-Japan side, stays unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines - Korean Lee Jeong Woo unleashed a brace to spark a five-goal binge in the second half as unbeaten Team Socceroo FC blanked Manila All-Japan, 5-0, to remain on top in the Second Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City over the weekend.

Scoreless after the first half, Lee struck with two straight goals in an eight-minute span starting on the 53rd to spark Socceroo booters’ explosive finish. Other scorers for the team were Kang Dae Han, Min Seung Yeon and Joannes Paulus Mari Reyes on the 73rd, 82nd and 89th, respectively.

It was Team Socceroo’s fourth straight victory for 12 points, two ahead of Forza FC with three triumphs and a draw, while Agila FC has three victories against a defeat for third with nine points.

The Manila All-Japan side fell to its third defeat against a lone win for three points and at joint eighth with Cimarron FC.

Laos FC also relied on second half goals by Rolly Lear and Michael Aubrey Atienza to salvage a shock 4-4 standoff with Union Internacional Manila.

Down 2-4 at the break, the Laos booters rallied in the final half as Lear and Atienza took charge while the rest shut down Union to force the draw.

Laos actually got off to a fast 2-0 start behind Ahmed Abdallah Hwedi and Mohammad Ghasemi on the fourth and eighth minute but Union came roaring back with four goals in a row from Mahmoud Ali, Ivan Meilan, James Toe and Ajah Goodluck Stanley to go into halftime with a 4-2 edge.

The standoff gave Laos its fourth point for joint sixth with Dolphins United FC, which smashed Phil Navy FC, 4-0, while stalling Union at No. 4 with seven points on two wins and a draw against a lone setback.

Meanwhile, First Division action resumes tonight with reigning League champ Global FC clashing with Pachanga-Diliman FC at 5:15 p.m. and powerhouse squads Loyola Meralco Sparks colliding with Kaya FC at 7:30 p.m. at the McKinley Hill grounds.