COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Blaise Nkufo scored the first three goals of his Major League Soccer career to help the Seattle Sounders beat the Columbus Crew 4-0 on Saturday night.
Nkufo, playing his sixth MLS game, scored on a rebound in the fourth minute, struck again in the 39th and completed the hat trick in the 75th.
Nathan Sturgis converted a penalty kick in the 42nd minute for his first MLS goal.
Seattle (10-9-6) is 6-1-3 in its last 10 games.
Columbus (13-7-5) missed an opportunity to increase its Eastern Conference lead over New York and tied the team record for margin of defeat last set in a 4-0 loss at New York on May 19, 2007.