Valentin Castellanos scores 4 goals as NYCFC dominate Salt Lake

Valentin Castellanos recorded his first ever four-goal performance in MLS to lift New York City FC to a 6-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday afternoon.

The goals were the first four of the season for Castellanos.

Castellanos’ second and third goals came from the penalty spot for defending MLS Cup champions NYCFC (2-3-1, 7 points), which ended a two-game losing streak in MLS.

Thiago Andrade added his second and third goals of the season for City in their first game since losing their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final series to Seattle Sounders 4-2 on aggregate goals. New York tied 1-1 at home Wednesday night after a 3-1 loss at Seattle.

Santiago Rodriguez added two assists in NYCFC’s second 6-0 victory in club history, one which also marked RSL’s worst margin of defeat.

Salt Lake (3-2-3, 9 points) is now winless in its last four games (0-2-2) after being trailed 22-12 overall and 12-5 in efforts on target.

Castellanos, 23, scored 19 goals and provided eight assists to win the MLS Golden Boot in the 2021 regular season, then added three more goals in a playoff that culminated in the team’s first triumph. the NYCFC in the MLS Cup.

But after a widely expected off-season move abroad failed to materialize, the Argentine had been frustrated in the league so far despite three goals in New York’s now-completed CCL campaign.

That frustration ended just nine minutes into Sunday’s game. He slipped past defender Tate Schmidt to hit a firm header from Rodriguez’s corner past goalkeeper Zac MacMath to open the scoring.

After Andrade’s first goal at 2-0 in the 15th minute, Castellanos converted his first penalty in the 40th minute. Schmidt caught Keaton Parks in the face with a high boot inside the penalty area to create the opportunity.

Andrade scored his second 10 minutes after half-time, and Castellanos netted his third in the 57th minute after taking a second penalty himself.

He ended his career day – and the 14th four-goal game in MLS history – when he latched on to an errant pass from MacMath in the 80th minute and sent a deflected strike past the goalkeeper. goal.

The MLS record of five goals was set by Clint Mathis of the Dallas Burn in 2000.