Colina’s hat-trick lifts NU past La Salle

National U leaned on Lawrence Colina’s hat-trick to beat De La Salle, 3-1, for its second consecutive win, while defending champion University of the Philippines and Far Eastern U battled to a scoreless draw in the UAAP Season 79 men’s football tournament at the Moro Lorenzo Field.

The Bulldogs rallied from a goal down behind Colina, who nailed the equalizer in the 76th minute and put his side ahead with an 84th minute strike from just inside the box.

Colina then scored in stoppage time with a spot kick for his first hat-trick of the season.

After a scoreless first half, Rigo Joseph opened the scoring for the Green Archers in the 53rd minute which proved to be their lone point of the game.

With the win, NU got its seventh point and tied with University of Santo Tomas, but the Growling Tigers remain in fourth spot by virtue of better goal difference.

Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons are still two points behind the second-running Tamaraws, who are now at 13 points, after the standoff.

Earlier, a 10-man University of the East earned its first full points with a 2-1 win over Adamson.

Substitute Alberto Echin delivered the header in the 89th minute to help the Red Warriors move up to four points.

UE won despite losing Stephane Dagaraga in the 64th minute for his involvement in a scuffle with Blessed Brian Jumo I.

De La Salle slipped to sixth place with five points, while Adamson is now at the bottom of the table with three points.