New York City FC extended its winning streak in the MLS season to five games with a resounding 5-1 victory over the San José Earthquakes this Friday, in which Costa Rican Alonso Martínez scored a hat trick.
The start of the game left the Big Apple team dominating possession of the ball and with Hannes Wolf as the main weapon in the attack on the left sector.
Wolf and Argentine Julián Hernández had opportunities inside the area in the first 15 minutes, but both shots were blocked by the visiting defense.
San Jose Earthquakes had trouble defending on the flanks. The California team came into the game as the worst in defense of the tournament, receiving 34 goals in 15 games.
The goals came early in the second half. At 50, Rodríguez won the final line and served for Wolf who, defining with a first intention, opened the scoring for NYFC.
Three minutes later, Argentine Hernán López made a spectacular three-fingered pass for Amahl Pellegrino, who scored before the goalkeeper came out to make it 1-1.
At minute 74, Argentine Maxi Moralez entered the game to a standing ovation from the New York City faithful. The midfielder suffered a ligament injury that left him off the field since September of last year. Today was his return.
The great figure of the match was Santiago Rodríguez, who with a low shot from outside the area beat the goal of Mexican William Yarbrough and broke the tie ten minutes from time. It was the sixth goal of the season for the Uruguayan.
San José lost order in defense when it was down on the scoreboard and the Costa Rican Alonso Martínez took the opportunity to score a hat trick in ten minutes, the first in the 85th minute after a pass from Moralez, the second in the 90th in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the third at 90+5 against a service from Colombian Andrés Perea.
In the streak of five consecutive victories, New York City scored 13 goals and conceded five.
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THE NATION
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