Frank Lampard made history Saturday, scoring the first hat trick in New York City FC history to power the Eastern Conference leaders to a 5-1 win over the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium.
Lampard was honored for his performance Tuesday, when it was announced that he has been voted MLS Player of the Week for Week 21 by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR).
The Designated Player has eight goals and one assist on the season, all of which have come in NYCFC’s last eight matches. He’s played in 11 games in 2016, making his debut on May 21 after recovering from a calf injury that sidelined him for the first part of the season.
Lampard got things going in the 28th minute on Saturday, finishing off Tommy McNamara’s flicked header of a Diego Martinez to give NYCFC a 1-0 lead.
He scored his second in the 81st minute. He collected a loose ball in the NYCFC box and found Jack Harrison on the break, eventually receiving a return ball from Harrison just outside the Colorado area and firing a right-footed shot inside the far post to make it 4-0. The goal is one of eight nominated for AT&T MLS Goal of the Week.
Lampard, who is one of five nominees for Etihad Airways Player of the Month for July, completed his hat trick with a penalty kick in the 84th minute, sending Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard the wrong way and powering his spot kick into the right side of the net.
New York City FC, who ended Colorado’s 15-game unbeaten run Saturday, lead the Eastern Conference and are tied for third in the Supporters’ Shield standings with a 10-7-6 record. They’ll return to action on Friday, when they take on the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium (11 pm ET; UniMas in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada).
