SOCCER: Hannes Wolf's hat trick powers NYCFC over Crew

Hannes Wolf scored twice in the opening 16 minutes and completed his first professional hat trick in the 66th minute in his return to the starting lineup, leading New York City FC to a 3-0 victory over visiting Columbus Crew on Sunday and snapping a seven-match winless run.

Wolf had missed NYCFC’s 1-0 loss to CF Montreal on April 25 due to a leg injury suffered three days earlier against FC Cincinnati. He returned as a substitute in last week’s 2-0 defeat to D.C. United before making a major impact in his first start back.

The win marked NYCFC’s (4-5-3, 15 points) first victory since March 14 against Colorado, ending a stretch in which the club went 0-5-2. Wolf scored in the 12th and 16th minutes before sealing his hat trick in the second half.

It was the seventh hat trick in Major League Soccer this season and the eighth in NYCFC history, and the club’s first since Alonso Martínez achieved the feat against FC Dallas on July 25 of last year.

Nicolás Fernández provided assists on all three goals, while Nico Cavallo and Agustín Ojeda also contributed assists in the match.

Wolf opened the scoring after NYCFC built up play through a sequence of passes in midfield. Ojeda received a pass from Fernández on the left flank, beat Columbus defender Rudy Camacho, and slipped a pass into Wolf, who finished with a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte into the bottom right corner.

He doubled the lead just four minutes later, finishing from close range after receiving a pass from Fernández near the end line and striking a left-footed shot from about six yards out into the upper netting.

Wolf completed his hat trick in the 66th minute, reacting quickly to a central pass from Fernández inside the box and lifting a right-footed finish into the middle of the goal.

NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese made two saves in his 100th career regular-season MLS appearance to secure his second shutout of the season.

Columbus (3-6-3, 12 points) was shut out for the third time this season and has now been held to two goals or fewer in 11 matches. Schulte finished with three saves in the loss.

— Field Level Media / Reuters