On Sunday afternoon, Orlando City SC fell to fellow expansion side New York City SC, by a final score of 5-3, thanks in part to a brilliant performance by David Villa, the all-time leading goalscorer for the Spanish national team.
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However, on Sunday, Villa’s star was dwarfed by that of a Major League Soccer rookie, 20-year-old striker Cyle Larin. The Canadian international bagged the first hat trick (above video) of his increasingly promising professional career, though his side was ultimately left with the bitter taste of defeat in their mouths.
While sharing the field with three former World Cup winners (Villa, Kaka and Andrea Pirlo), Larin was the undisputed best player on the field Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
[ RELATED: Week 21 Team of the Week — feat. Larin, Villa, Finlay and more ]
On goal No. 1, Larin showed off his size, strength and a great deal of spatial understanding, as he held off Jefferson Mena at the top of the box and finished coolly past Josh Saunders. On Goal No. 2, Larin showed a poacher’s instinct as he made the late run to the back post and was duly rewarded. On Goal No. 3, Larin showed immense technical skill and finishing ability as he created the necessary half-yard of space for a shot and put his laces through the ball
MLS Players of the Week
Week 1: Tyler Deric, Houston Dynamo
Week 2: Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes
Week 3: Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls
Week 4: Kaka, Orlando City SC
Week 5: Harrison Shipp, Chicago Fire
Week 6: Jaime Penedo, LA Galaxy
Week 7: Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas
Week 8: Ethan Finlay, Columbus Crew SC
Week 9: Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas
Week 10: Mauro Diaz, FC Dallas
Week 11: Chad Barrett, Seattle Sounders
Week 12: Kei Kamara, Columbus Crew SC
Week 13: Krisztian Nemeth, Sporting Kansas City
Week 14: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
Week 15: David Villa, New York City FC
Week 16: Matias Perez Garcia, San Jose Earthquakes
Week 17: Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers
Week 18: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
