Ike Uche’s hat-trick sinks Vallecano Super Eagles forward Ikechukwu Uche increased his goal tally in the current La Liga campaign with a hat trick as Villarreal thrashed Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at the Estadio del Rayo Vallecano on Monday night. Uche who played the entire duration of the encounter shot the visitors into an early lead in the tenth minute off a Jeremy Perbet assist for his seventh goal of the season in nine starts from 15 appearances off available 18 league fixtures so far played by the Yellow Submarines in the current season. Perbet who set up the Nigerian for the opener doubled the lead two minutes later to put Villarreal in the driving seat and with four minutes left to play in the first half, the Frenchman extended his side’s lead for his second on the night to ensure a comfortable 3-0 away lead at half time with Moisés Bordonado providing both assists. After the break, Uche struck twice in 58th and 64th minutes respectively to give Villarreal a comfortable 5-0 lead for his first hat trick of the season before being booked in the closing stages of the encounter. Nery Castillo reduced the deficit six minutes after the hour mark and inside the 90+1 minute, the Mexican got his second on the night from a spot kick to end the game at 5-2. The victory means the visitors displace Sevilla to clinch the sixth spot on the log with 31 points while Vallecano sit second from bottom of the table with just 13 points from 18 league fixtures. Culled from VANGUARD