Seattle Sounders Vs. Toronto FC, 2012 MLS: David Estrada Hat Trick Leads Sounders Past TFC

Prior to this season, David Estrada was a nobody. He pretty much just sat on the Seattle Sounders' bench and that's assuming he even made the bench. But after Saturday, he's certainly not a nobody anymore and is on the verge of cult hero status in Seattle after the striker picked up a hat trick to lead them to a 3-1 win over Toronto FC in Seattle's home opener.

Estrada got onto the scoreboard after 17 minutes largely thanks to Alvaro Fernandez, who was involved in all three of Estrada's goals. The Uruguayan danced down the left and put a defender on the turf with some great footwork to clear enough space for a cross. The Reds could not clear the cross from in front of goal, and eventually Estrada was able to hop on the ball and poke it home for the opening goal.

Fernandez was involved in Estrada's second goal, as he and Marc Burch both picked up on the tally that came right after the break. Finally, Estrada and Fernandez combined wonderfully to put Estrada in alone on goal. Estrada slammed the ball home and the hat trick was his, albeit with a big helping hand from Fernandez.

Ryan Johnson did his best to give Toronto a chance with a brilliant goal when the Sounders were up 2-0, dribbling more than half the field before cutting in and curling the ball into the upper corner, but it wasn't nearly enough. Seattle was the better side from the start and really could have had a couple more goals. In the end, their three goals proved to be more than enough though, and the Sounders were comfortable winners.