MANILA, Philippines – Team Socceroo overcame an early defensive breakdown as it overpowered Dolphins United FC, 4-1, to move two wins away from a sweet sweep of the Second Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City Sunday night.
Falling a goal down early no thanks to a second minute rocket by Jerome Cuyos, Korean Jeon Shink Seok and Maurice de Leon came through with a brilliant goal each on the 10th and 28th, respectively, to give the Socceroo booters a 2-1 advantage at halftime.
And then Lee Jeong Woo and Cha Won Jae finished what's left with the Dolphins by blasting away with two quick goals spanning two minutes starting on the 66th, sealing Socceroo's 14th straight win that kept them comfortably perched on top with 42 points, 14 clear of closest pursuer Union Internacional Manila's 28.
Socceroo had actually clinched the division title as well as an automatic promotion to the elite First Division as early as two weeks back but is looking to win its remaining two outings to become the first team to sweep their way to the crown after a while.
Lee's rocket was his 12th overall to overtake Cuyos, who currently has 11, with most number of goals in the division while Jeon moved into joint third with Forza FC's Dibi Pascal with eight apiece.
Dolphins United remained second to last with 10 match points on three victories and a draw against 10 losses.
Union moved from a share of No. 2 idle Agila FC with 27 points apiece to solo hold of it with 28 following a scoreless standoff with Manila All-Japan, which further sank to the bottom with only seven points to show.
Meanwhile, First Division action resumes today with Nomads FC clashing with red-hot Green Archers United Globe at 5:15 p.m. and Loyola Meralco Sparks battling Stallion FC at 7:30 p.m. also at the McKinley Hill.