Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ulaanbataar: Kim Yu-song scored a hat-trick as DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC confirmed their place in the next phase of the 2017 AFC Cup on Wednesday with a comfortable 5-0 win over Mongolia’s Erchim that guarantees the club Pyongyang top spot in Group I.
Victory moves 4.25 SC onto eight points from four games so far and the Pak Myung-hun-coached team cannot be surpassed at the summit by Kigwancha due to 4.25’s superior head-to-head record over their compatriots.
Dulguun Tumurbaatar deflected Kim’s shot past his own goalkeeper midway through the first half to give 4.25 the lead before An Il-bom doubled his side’s advantage from close range five minutes before the break.
Kim scored a second 12 minutes after the restart when he lifted the ball over the advancing Ariunbold Batsaikhan and, with 21 minutes to go, Ro Hyong-jin converted from the penalty spot. Kim side-footed home his third of the day and ninth of the competition with five minutes remaining to complete the rout and send 4.25 SC through to the Inter-zonal Play-off Semi-finals.