Korean's hat trick drowns Navy in UFL

MANILA, Philippines - Stallion Giligan’s FC, with Korean striker Lee Joo Young completing a hat trick, overpowered a rough-playing Philippine Navy Red Juice side, 6-0, yesterday to seize the early lead in the United Football League competition at the University of the Makati pitch.

Winger Yoon Byeong Jun opened up scoring with a scrambling goal inside the box just nine minutes into the game but Lee came through with three straight goals on the 33rd, 50th and 75th to put the game away.

Midfielder Park Bo Bae and substitute Jimmy Vergara Jr. also scored in 77th and 84th minutes, respectively, to complete the rout.

It was a spectacular Division One debut for the Iloilo-based Stallion, which matched the victories of LBC-backed Kaya FC and Loyola Meralco Sparks in Saturday’s opener but seized the top spot on goal difference.

Kaya FC, mentored by Juan Cutillas, got its title bid off the launching pad with a shock 1-0 victory over reigning League and Cup champion Air Force while the Sparks, spearheaded by Phil and James Younghusband, escaped with 3-2 win over a tough Green Archers United.

“Maybe they should change the top four teams and include us in that list,” said Stallion manager Ernest Nierras, referring to the pre-tournament forecast of a four-cornered fight among Loyola, Air Force, Global FC and Kaya FC.

Stallion will try to further prove its worth as it takes on two of the four fancied squads – Air Force Phoenix on Jan. 22 at the UMak and Loyola on Jan. 28 at the Rizal pitch.

“We like our roles as underdogs but those two games are going to be exciting and we know it will serve as gauge on how we’re going to fare in this league,” said Nierras.

Navy proved no match to Stallion’s excellent passing and ball-handling with Gerald Orcullo slapped a red card for a dangerous tackle on Yoon in the 30th minute.

“We wanted them to press and when they did, we let the ball move, it’s basically one-touch football,” said Nierras. “It also helped that we finished the game with 11 players.”

In the nightcap, Nomads Auction Manila FC edged Pasagrad FC, 3-2, to join the early leaders in the tournament.