It might seem a bit strange, but Fredy Montero had never scored a hat trick in his MLS career. Until Saturday, anyway. The Seattle Sounders forward scored three goals, all off assists from Mauro Rosales, and added an assist of his own to lead his team to a 6-2 victory over Chivas USA.
Chivas USA Vs. Seattle Sounders, 2012 MLS: Fredy Montero Bags Hat Trick
Montero has now scored in four straight games and has seven goals in his past six, giving him 11 for the season. It was less than a month ago that he was coming off the bench and many were wondering if he could co-exist with teammate Eddie Johnson, who also has 11 goals.
Those questions have clearly been put to rest. Montero got the Sounders started on the right foot when he fed Brad Evans on the left wing. The wide open Evans was able to put it past Dan Kennedy for the 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.
Montero doubled the Sounders’ lead a few minutes later, taking a feed from Rosales and hitting it beyond a diving Kennedy. Montero made it 3-0 before the half, taking a pass from Rosales and popping it over Kennedy who had come off his line.
After a pair of Chivas USA goals -- a penalty by Juan Agudelo and a strike from Miller Bolanos -- Montero basically put the game away with his best goal of the match. Again taking a pass from Rosales, Montero cut it back to allow a defender to fly past him and then beat Kennedy to the far post.
Sammy Ochoa finished off the scoring with a header off an assist from Christian Tiffert, his first in MLS.
The Sounders have now gone 5-1-1 in their past seven to pull even with Real Salt Lake for second in the West. Seattle does hold a three-goal lead, though, with two games in hand.
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