Hannes Wolf's hat trick powers New York City FC over Columbus Crew

Hannes Wolf scored twice in the opening 16 minutes and finished off his first professional hat trick in the 66th during his return to the starting 11, helping New York City FC end a seven-game winless skid with a 3-0 victory over the visiting Columbus Crew on Sunday.

Wolf missed New York's 1-0 loss against CF Montreal on April 25 with a leg injury sustained three days earlier against FC Cincinnati and was used as a substitute for last week's 2-0 loss at D.C. United before returning in a big way against Columbus.

Wolf helped NYCFC (4-5-3, 15 points) get their first win since beating Colorado on March 14. After NYCFC went 0-5-2 in their skid, Wolf struck in the 12th and 16th minutes before scoring again to clinch things.

Wolf notched the seventh hat trick in MLS this season. It was the eighth hat trick in NYCFC history and first since Alonso Martinez at FC Dallas last July 25.

Nicolas Fernandez set up each goal while Nico Cavallo and Agustin Ojeda each had an assist.

Wolf gave NYCFC the lead by getting to the middle area slightly above the box after his teammates moved the ball up the field with four passes.

Ojeda took a pass from Fernandez, moved down the left side, eluded Columbus defender Rudy Camacho and flicked a pass to Wolf.

Wolf finished the sequence by sending a right-footed shot by goalie Patrick Schulte into the bottom right corner.

NYCFC doubled their lead when Wolf got even closer to the net, took a pass from Fernandez near the end line and sent a left-footed shot from about six yards out into the upper part of the net.

Wolf finished off his hat trick by getting a quick pass from Fernandez in the center of the box and lifting a right-footed shot from into the middle of the net.

NYCFC goalie Matt Freese made two saves in his 100th career regular season MLS match for his second shutout this season.

Columbus (3-6-3, 12 points) was blanked for the third time this season and held to two goals or fewer for the 11th time. Schulte made three saves.

--Field Level Media