NEW YORK: Frank Lampard scored a hat trick as New York City beat 10-man Colorado 5-1 on Saturday to emphatically end the Rapids' 15-game unbeaten streak.
Lampard opened the scoring in the 28th minute, finishing Diego Martinez's cross and Thomas McNamara's redirecting flick with a close-range stab. Lampard made it 4-0 in the 81st minute and capped City's scoring with a penalty in the 84th; his eighth goal of the season and the first hat trick in NYCFC's brief history.
The Rapids' Micheal Azira was sent off in the 37th minute with his second yellow card and Shkelzen Gashi scored Colorado's lone goal on a deflected free kick in second-half stoppage time.
The match was delayed for 40 minutes immediately after Lampard's first goal due to lightning in the area.
Tony Taylor and Steven Mendoza also scored for New York City.