NEW YORK ā It was a vintage and virtuoso Frank Lampard performance.
Wearing the captainās armband he scored a hat trick to lead his team to victory in the pouring rain.
It wasnāt Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but on Saturday afternoon the English midfielder helped lead New York City FC to a stunning 5-1 win over the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium.
In the most lopsided victory in the clubās short history, Lampard scored the clubās first-ever hat trick.
āIām really happy. I didnāt realize that,ā Lampard said. āI know itās a very short history, but itās a great accolade for me. As a person Iām very happy. When Iām playing well and feeling good, hopefully I can score goals. Iāve managed to do it since Iāve been fit.ā
Lampard has eight goals since June 18, the most in Major League Soccer during that stretch. His first goal was similar to his first five this year, a sliding effort inside the six-yard box.
He followed with two more in a three-minute span late, a blast inside the far post from 16 yards out and the last from the penalty spot.
āIn this system, itās fantastic. He can build up the play, he can finish,ā said NYCFC assistant Christian Lattanzio, who filled in for the suspended Patrick Vieira. āHe scored 177 goals in the Premier League, the fifth top scorer ever. Also, as a captain, he was magnificent. I thought he was a big influence on the team.ā
Lampard wore the captainās armband in David Villaās absence. The leading scorer in MLS served a one-game suspension because of yellow card accumulation, one of three regulars out through suspension.
Andrea Pirloās availability was in question after playing 30 minutes in the MLS All-Star Game Thursday night and flying cross-country. But the Italian legend was superb in his 66-minute shift.
āAndrea played 30 minutes, but he has experience and an ability to manage himself. Heās a great professional player,ā Lattanzio said. āHe felt ready to play, he felt good despite the long travel. ā¦ Andrea didnāt need convincing. He wanted to play and for us it was welcome news."
Tony Taylor filled in for Villa and scored his second goal of the season ā and first at Yankee Stadium ā five minutes after Colorado midfielder Michael Azira was sent off for his second bookable offense. Diego Martinez was solid at left back and Maxime Chanot, who had one training session with the squad, replaced an injured Jefferson Mena at halftime to make his debut.
And Steven Mendoza, who hadnāt stepped onto the field since a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake on June 2, came off the bench to put the game away in the 75th minute.
āI think it shows the depth,ā Lampard said. āIt shows unity and more than anything it shows a lot of those individuals who are sometimes not playing, but theyāre keeping fit and contributing when they play.ā
It also shows the resolve of a team not ready to relinquish first place in the Eastern Conference. Only once has NYCFC (10-7-6) lost back-to-back games this season and each time theyāve suffered a tough loss, as was the case at Red Bull Arena last Sunday, theyāve had the response.
They are also 3-1-1 in their last five at Yankee Stadium after struggling to find results at home early in the season.
āThe three goals personally feel great, but for the team more importantly, twice now in recent weeks weāve lost a game and come straight back the next week and won,ā Lampard said. āThatās what a team that wants to stay at the top of the table needs to do.ā