Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick as New England rolled past D.C. United for the second time this year, with the Revolution capturing a 3-0 victory on Wednesday in Washington.
Four months ago against D.C. in Foxborough, Mass., Yusuf scored the lone goal in a 1-0 New England victory.
Yusuf entered the night with two goals on the season and a total of four in three MLS seasons, all with the Revolution.
Also playing a key role for the Revolution (10-7-3, 33 points) on Wednesday was newly acquired Jack Harrison, who set up all three of Yusuf’s goals.
Matt Turner added three saves to pick up his second straight shutout against D.C. and his fifth clean sheet of the season.
It was a much-needed victory for the Revolution, who had won just one of their previous six matches (1-3-2).
Sean Johnson made five saves for D.C. United (5-6-9, 24 points). The loss snapped D.C. United’s six-match unbeaten streak (5-0-1). D.C. was without injured starters Kye Rowles and Joao Peglow, who each missed their second straight game.
Harrison, who arrived last month from English Premier League club Leeds United, set up the first goal in the 23rd minute with a left-footed cross from the right flank to Peyton Miller near the left post.
Miller headed a pass to the top of the goal area to an unchecked Yusuf, who headed a bouncing shot from point-blank range into the bottom right side.
In the 45th minute, Harrison sent a long pass from the left flank toward the right post. Yusuf, a 26-year-old Nigerian, raced past a defender and tapped in a right-footed shot.
Harrison and Yusuf put the match away in the 66th minute. Harrison fed another left-footed long ball from the right side to the middle of the box. Yusuf ran unmarked to the ball and headed a shot past Johnson for his first career hat trick.
–Field Level Media
