Lamar Neagle entered this MLS season known by few outside of friends and family. After his hat trick against the Columbus Crew during the Seattle Sounders 6-2 victory on Saturday, he'll surely be the talk of the week. Neagle's performance was so impressive, that it surely rendered Jeff Cunningham's setting of the MLS career goals scored a mere footnote.
Seattle Sounders Vs. Columbus Crew: Lamar Neagle Hat Trick Trumps Jeff Cunningham’s Record Setter
Making the accomplishment all the more impressive was that all three goals came in the run of play. Neagle's first goal came when he fought off Crew defender Rich Balchan and skipped a low shot toward the goal that Will Hesmer was unable to handle. Neagle's second goal came in the 20th minute when he was left unmarked at the far post and was able to put away James Riley's perfectly placed cross. He closed out his day with a Goal of the Week candidate, blasting a shot from the top left corner of the penalty area. The shot ricocheted off the cross bar and just beyond the goal line.
Neagle's final goal restored the Sounders' 4-0 lead, which had been cut to three on Cunningham's 134th career goal. The record-setter came from the penalty spot after coach Robert Warzycha insisted Cunningham take the kick instead of Emilio Renteria, who had earned it and appeared set to take it.
The six goals were a MLS record for the Sounders, who had never scored more than four goals in a match. They also got goals from Mike Fucito and Mauro Rosales, who each added assists as well. The Sounders' sixth goal came on a Josh Gardner own goal, who had scored his second goal of the season only a minute earlier.
With the win, the Sounders improved to 4-0-3 all time against the Crew. It was also the second time in the past four times they’ve played that the Sounders have won by four goals.
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