On This Day presented by UMKC takes daily strolls down memory lane and celebrates memorable moments in Sporting Kansas City history. As one of Major League Soccer's proud charter members, Sporting has a decorated past full of thrilling victories, amazing goals, momentous off-the-field developments and more. This series pays tribute to these specific instances, turning back the clocks while treating fans to nostalgia and club history lessons. For more, visit SportingKC.com/OnThisDay.
Thirteen years ago today, a prolific Kansas City Wizards striker achieved a rare scoring feat never before seen in the history of Major League Soccer,
In a thrilling 3-2 defeat of the New York Red Bulls on June 2, 2007, U.S. international Eddie Johnson treated Arrowhead Stadium to a sensational solo performance with his second consecutive MLS hat trick.
Having bagged three goals the previous weekend in Kansas City's wild 4-3 road win over the New England Revolution, Johnson stayed red-hot with another treble against the Red Bulls. The Wizards trailed 1-0 entering halftime after New York took initiative on an early Juan Pablo Angel strike, but Johnson scorched the visitors to the tune of three second-half goals between the 46th and 85th minutes.
The unprecedented second consecutive hat trick gave Johnson nine goals through nine MLS matches in 2007, which ultimately saw the Wizards advance to the conference championship before falling to eventual champions Houston Dynamo.
Just 23 years old at the time, Johnson finished 2007 with 15 league goals prior to his high-dollar move to English Premier League club Fulham. Kansas City's transfer fee received for the player remains a club record.
Two other MLS players have notched consecutive hat tricks since Johnson's breakthrough 13 years ago. Legendary Irish forward Robbie Keane did the deed with LA Galaxy on July 4 and 17 of 2015, while Atlanta United FC superstar Josef Martinez managed the feat on Sept. 3 and 16 of 2017. Thus, Johnson remains the only MLS player to score regular season hat tricks on consecutive weekends.
Last year, Johnny Russell joined Johnson as the only two players to score multiple regular season hat tricks in a Kansas City uniform.
MOST HAT-TRICKS IN SPORTING KC HISTORY (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Date(s)</strong> |
<strong>Result(s)</strong> |
2 |
Eddie Johnson |
05/26/2007<br>
06/02/2007 |
W 4-3 at New England Revolution<br>
W 3-2 vs. New York Red Bulls |
2 |
Johnny Russell |
04/20/2018<br>
05/26/2019 |
W 6-0 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC<br>
W 3-2 vs. Seattle Sounders FC |
1 |
Krisztian Nemeth |
03/30/2019 |
W 7-1 vs. Montreal Impact |
1 |
Gerso Fernandes |
05/17/2017 |
W 3-0 vs. Seattle Sounders FC |
1 |
Birahim Diop |
10/23/2010 |
W 4-1 vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
1 |
Davy Arnaud |
07/03/2003 |
W 5-1 vs. FC Dallas |
1 |
Preki |
09/05/1998 |
W 5-1 vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
1 |
Digital Takawira |
05/16/1998 |
W 3-1 at New England Revolution |
