It was a historic weekend for Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, who became the first player in club history to ever score four goals in a game in Saturday’s 4-1 blowout result over Sporting Kansas City.
No one had ever scored four, but there have been several other hat tricks throughout Seattle’s time in MLS, including one from Morris himself. Coming off the historic occasion at Children’s Mercy Park, here’s a look back at all the other hat tricks of the Sounders’ MLS era.
Blaise Nkufo at Columbus Crew (September 18, 2010)
Seattle’s first-ever hat trick in MLS play was delivered by Swiss international forward Blaise Nfuko, who managed the feat by striking for three of Seattle’s four goals in a 4-0 rout of the Columbus Crew on September 18, 2010. Nfuko was a menace throughout the contest, as the powerful striker found his first goal just four minutes after kickoff before adding additional tallies in the 39th and 75th minutes.
Lamar Neagle vs. Columbus Crew (August 27, 2011)
A local legend was responsible for Seattle’s second hat trick, as Federal Way-native Lamar Neagle also victimized the Crew with another three-goal performance the very next season. This one ended 6-2, with Neagle also starting his scoring barrage in the fourth minute, adding his second and third in the 21st and 70th minutes respectively. It was one of the most highlight moments of Neagle’s time in Rave Green, which memorably spanned four separate stints with the club.
David Estrada vs. Toronto FC (March 17, 2012)
In perhaps the most fortuitously-timed hat trick on this list, David Estrada checks in with his St. Patrick’s Day outburst against Toronto FC, which was also the opening match of Seattle’s 2012 MLS campaign. Dubbed “St. Hat Trick’s Day” by fans in the aftermath, Estrada nabbed all three goals in an unforgettable 3-1 victory over the visiting Reds in front of what at the time was a club-record opening day crowd of 38,709.
Fredy Montero vs. Chivas USA (August 25, 2012)
A club legend currently in his second stint in Rave Green, Montero became the fourth Sounder to manage the milestone, tagging since-defunct Chivas USA for half of Seattle’s goals in a 6-2 victory. All three were assisted by Mauro Rosales, with Montero also assisting on the opener that was scored by teammate Brad Evans.
Clint Dempsey at Portland Timbers (April 5, 2014)
A constant menace to Seattle’s rival Portland Timbers, Dempsey put in some of his finest work as a Sounder in a wild 4-4 draw at Providence Park that saw him strike for three clutch finishes. The first came with Seattle down 2-1 in the 24th minute, then added a dramatic late brace to end the contest on level terms after Portland had jumped ahead 4-2. The final goal came from the penalty spot, officially erasing the deficit and leaving the Providence crowd in a stunned silence.
Clint Dempsey at Orlando City SC (August 7, 2016)
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Dempsey’s name on this list twice. The legendary US international bagged his second Seattle hat trick two years later, this time at the expense of Orlando City SC in a span of just 48 minutes. The 3-1 victory snapped Seattle out of a summer downturn in form and is often credited as that season’s turning point moment in the club’s eventual march to its historic 2016 MLS Cup title victory.
Jordan Morris vs. FC Dallas (October 19, 2019 - MLS Cup Playoffs)
The only postseason entry on the list, Morris’s first MLS hat trick came on the biggest stage, when he sunk FC Dallas with a three-goal outburst in the first round of the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. It was one of the great individual efforts in club history given the circumstances, which saw Morris score twice before netting a dramatic 113th-minute winner in extra time that sent the Lumen Field crowd into a frenzy. That performance catapulted Seattle on a run that culminated in their second MLS Cup title.
Jordan Morris at Sporting Kansas City (March 25, 2023)
That’s a pretty healthy list of hat tricks, but until last Saturday, no Sounders player had ever managed to score four goals in a game. It’s a milestone checked off the list after Morris’ epic explosion at Sporting Kansas City in MLS Matchday 5, which turned heads around the league as he tormented Seattle’s Western Conference rivals all evening before finally leaving with the four-goal haul. Morris is simply on fire to start the 2023 season, leading the early Golden Boot race with seven through five matches.
The Sounders are back in action on Saturday as they visit the LA Galaxy (4:30 p.m. PT; FOX, Watch for free on the Apple TV app) before returning home the following weekend to host red-hot expansion side St. Louis CITY SC (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch for free on the Apple TV app | TICKETS) at Lumen Field on April 8.
