Dwayne De Rosario scored the quickest hat trick in MLS history, leading D.C. United to a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
De Rosario, who also became the first D.C. player to get multiple hat tricks in one season, scored on a header in the 22nd minute, then got his second in the 27th and converted a free kick in the 31st.
He also set up the first goal for United (9-8-11), sending a perfect diagonal pass to Andy Najar, who scored in the 13th minute. DC extended its home unbeaten streak to four matches (2-0-2).
''The thing with 'De Ro' is, I'm not even surprised anymore with some of the stuff he does,'' United coach Ben Olsen said of the 33-year-old Canadian, who now has 90 goals in an 11-year career spent with five different clubs. ''I've seen it as a fan of his and I've also seen it on the other side for 10 years. This is what he does and this is why we wanted him.''
De Rosario, who has scored 10 of his 13 goals since D.C. acquired him in a trade with New York in late June, also scored a hat trick on Aug. 6 in a 3-3 draw at home against Toronto.
''It's working out for now,'' De Rosario said of the move to the club, which has sat on the fringes of the league's 10-team playoff picture for most of the season. ''We're still not in the playoffs. Until we make the playoffs then I can say it's working out.''
Alvaro Saborio scored in the 86th minute for Real Salt Lake (15-8-6), who allowed the quickest first four goals in club history while failing to extend a five-game win streak.
Salt Lake had not let in four goals in a match this season.
Abdul Thompson Conteh previously held D.C.'s club record for quickest hat trick, scoring his third of four goals in the 44th minute of a 5-0 victory over New England on May 9, 2001.
