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Brendan Doherty·1 July 2018
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Brendan Doherty·1 July 2018
Adama Diomande started the night with four goals to his name but ended Saturday with seven goals through just five matches of his MLS career.
LAFC looked shaky in the back both before and after their breakthrough goal but the defense held together long enough for the Norwegian forward to carve up a few chances and earn his hat-trick.
In the 25th minute Diomande isolated 19-year old defender Mark McKenzie, cutting back on him twice before firing across goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Canadian midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye received a pass in the area from Benny Feilhaber before squaring a simple pass for Diomande to tap in from the top of the six-yard box in the 43rd minute.
Fafà Picault pulled one back for the Union just before halftime. Goalkeeper Tyler Miller spilled the ball into the middle of the box and Philadelphia’s speedy winger was the first player to react.
Any momentum the Union mustered from Picault’s goal was extinguished when Diomande completed his hat-trick ten minutes into the second half.
Diomande’s third goal marked the first hat-trick in Los Angeles FC club history. According to Elias Sports, Diomande is also the first player in MLS history to score seven goals in his first five league matches.
Deep in stoppage time Latif Blessing crashed the net to tap in a rebound and underline an impressive team victory from the hosts.