On a night when Toronto FC made history as the first Canadian-based club to win the MLS Supporters' Shield as the best team in the regular season, it was a defender that carried the attacking load.
Justin Morrow, who has the most goals scored by a defender in MLS since 2015, tallied three times in TFC's decisive 4-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night. The hat trick brings his total for the season up to eight goal, tied for third on the team with midfielder Victor Vazquez.
Morrow's first two goals of the night weren't the prettiest, but the opportunistic strikes boosted his club to a two-goal first-half lead.
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A scramble in front, but @justmorrow is there to clean up the mess to get things started!#TFCLive | #TORvNY pic.twitter.com/tKIzWoXWtl
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) September 30, 2017
Wait for it... WAIT FOR ITTTTTT! @justmorrow completes the brace on a scrappy goal#TFCLive | #TORvNY pic.twitter.com/kzfZNJmpeA
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) October 1, 2017
His third goal came in stoppage time after Vazquez had put the team back in front following two straight Red Bulls' strikes.
The man is on fire!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 1, 2017
That's a hat trick for @justmorrow! #TFC #TORvNY https://t.co/tqJLeghK9r
Morrow was the obvious choice for Man of the Match as the club celebrated its second piece of hardware this year. Despite a superb individual night, the 29-year-old was quick to praise the rest of his team for helping him become an attacking force since joining TFC.
"I've said it all year, it's all about my teammates," Morrow told reporters after Saturday's match. "All the praise goes to them. With this many good guys on the team all you have to do is get yourself in the box and you're going to have opportunities."