UFL: Korean’s hat-trick lifts Socceroo over Agila

MANILA Philippines – Team Socceroo drew strength from Korean Lee Jeong Woo's hat-trick as it mowed down Agila FC, 4-1, to fortify its hold of the top spot in the Second Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City.

Lee's triple came on the 56th, 59th and the second minute of injury time that helped extend the Socceroo booters' amazing streak to eight while strengthening their grip of the top spot with 24 match points – or a whopping seven points clear of distant second Union Internacional Manila with 17.

Another Korean, Jeon Shin Seok, opened up the scoring for Socceroo with a 27th minute rocket, giving it a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Then Lee came through with a pair of goals in a hurry, blasting away in a three minute span starting on the 56th that pad their lead to 3-0, an advantage sliced to two following a 65th minute blast by Philip Zemen.

Lee then finished off Agila, which got stranded at No. 3 with 15 points on five triumphs against three defeats, with that 92nd minute goal to complete the hat-trick.

Eisi Sugasaki unloaded a very late goal as Manila All-Japan escaped with a 2-2 standoff against Laos FC.

Trailing 1-2 no thanks to a 56th minute goal by Al Ervin Pattunag, Sugasaki struck when his team needed it most on the 86th to help Manila improve to seven points on two victories and a standoff against five setbacks.

The loss kept Laos stuck at No. 4 with 14 points on four wins and two draws against two losses, a point ahead of Forza FC, which fell to Dolphins United FC, 1-3, to remain at No. 5 with 13 points on four triumphs and a draw against three losses.