HARRISON, N.J. – Cyle Larin netted his second hat trick of the season to lift Orlando City Soccer Club to a 5-2 win over 10-man New York Red Bulls Friday night at Red Bull Arena.
The victory pulled the expansion team to within one point of sixth-place Montreal in the Eastern Conference, although the Impact have three games in hand.
While the Red Bulls (14-9-6) dominated possession in the opening minutes, it was Orlando City who took the lead on Larin’s 12th goal of the season in the 24th minute.
Kaká, in his first game back since suffering a thigh strain with Brazil in a match against Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena, played a corner toward the near post. Larin latched on and flicked his header at the edge of the six-yard box inside the far post.
The Red Bulls responded four minutes later on Dax McCarty’s first goal of the season. Sacha Kljestan played a free kick from 26 yards out toward the back post where Matt Miazga leapt up to head back across the goal. A diving McCarty headed off a bounce to level the score.
Orlando City defender Seb Hines suffered a shoulder injury on the play and was stretchered off, replaced by Carlos Rivas.
Shortly before halftime, Rivas threaded a terrific ball to Larin, who took a touch to enter the 18-yard box before beating Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles inside the far post from 10 yards out for his 13th goal of the season.
The Red Bulls had two glorious chances to equalize in first-half stoppage time, but McCarty headed off the crossbar from the penalty spot off a Kljestan corner and Bradley Wright-Phillips nodded off the far post from a Kemar Lawrence pass.
Less than a minute into the second half, Orlando City (10-13-8) doubled their lead on an own goal by Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle, who slid to break up a Rivas cross intended for Larin.
One minute after Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch was chased from his technical area by referee Jorge Gonzalez, Lloyd Sam pulled New York within a goal in the 58th minute. Substitute Gonzalo Veron played a low cross to Sam, who spun and fired from just outside the six-yard box for his eighth goal of the season.
The Red Bulls continued to apply pressure, but Orlando City doubled their advantage once more on a quick counter as Rivas again found Larin, who blasted under the crossbar from 16 yards out to give the Lions a 4-2 lead in the 61st minute.
The Red Bulls were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute when Matt Miazga received his second yellow card after pulling back Bryan Rochez.
Rochez ended the scoring on the final attempt of the night, putting the finishing touches on a critical victory for the visitors.
The surging Lions, who have won three straight, return to Orlando to take on the Montreal Impact Oct. 3, while the Red Bulls host Columbus Crew SC Oct. 3.
