York9 FC scored early and often at home on Saturday as they trounced the visiting HFX Wanderers FC 6-2, with four first-half goals making it lopsided from the outset. With the largest margin of victory in CPL history and the league’s first-ever hat-trick courtesy of Rodrigo Gattas, it was an afternoon to remember for the Nine Stripes.

The home side got off the ground in the 11th minute as Ryan Telfer capitalized on some casual play by the HFX backline to slip in behind and score through goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams’ legs. Gattas joined the party shortly after, scoring his first with a well-taken half volley from around the penalty spot.

The Chilean forward added to his total 10 minutes later, picking out the far corner from well outside the penalty area with an incredible left-footed strike to make it 3-0. Gattas’ hat-trick marker came on the edge of halftime as he beat Williams again, this time by heading in a good cross from Manny Aparicio.

With the result pretty much settled by the end of the first half, the game’s pace slowed down a little in the second 45, with HFX looking to at least get on the board. Thomasz Skublak managed to spoil the clean sheet, jumping on a poor back pass from York9’s Morey Doner to score in the 60th minute. He would later help bring HFX’s total to two as he created a play that bounced off defender Roger Thompson for a York9 own goal.

Telfer’s second marker of the day was yet another excellent finish, as he brought down a high pass with his chest and finished short side to give York9 their fifth goal around the hour mark. Finally, as if they really needed another, Emilio Estevez bundled it over the line late in the match to make it six, as York9 doubled the previous mark for most goals scored in a CPL match.

The Wanderers will have to shake off this loss quickly, as  they travel to Alberta for a test against FC Edmonton on Wednesday (9:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. MT, on OneSoccer). York9, meanwhile, has some time off; they had a match scheduled for August 2 against Forge FC, but due to Forge’s CONCACAF League game the night before, that fixture will be rescheduled. So, the Nine Stripes are slated to return to the pitch on August 10 at home against Valour FC (3:30 p.m. ET, on OneSoccer).

Box Score

Goals
11′ – Ryan Telfer (York9 FC)
22′ – Rodrigo Gattas (York9 FC)
31′ – Rodrigo Gattas (York9 FC)
45′ – Rodrigo Gattas (York9 FC)
60′ – Thomasz Skublak (HFX Wanderers FC)
63′ – Ryan Telfer (York9 FC)
75′ – Roger Thompson (OG) (HFX Wanderers FC)
85′ – Emilio Estevez (York9 FC)

Discipline
19′ Yellow – Chrisnovic N’Sa (HFX Wanderers FC)
40′ Yellow – Manuel Aparicio (York9 FC)
45+’ Yellow – Luca Gasparotto (York9 FC)
45+’ Yellow – Luis Alberto Perea (HFX Wanderers FC)
53′ Yellow – Andre Bona (HFX Wanderers FC)
68′ Yellow – Alex De Carolis (HFX Wanderers FC)
69′ Yellow – Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers FC)

Three Key Performers

Rodrigo Gattas (York9 FC)

An easy choice. The league’s first ever hat-trick was an absolute beauty as all three goals were worthy of highlight reels. Gattas made a very convincing claim to the starting spot at the top of York9’s lineup as he continues to emerge as one of the most clinical finishers in the CPL.

Ryan Telfer (York9 FC)

After his haunting miss on Wednesday in Montreal, Telfer did all he could to make up for it here with two difficult finishes. He played a more advanced position than usual to allow Gattas to sit back and find space, and it worked out perfectly for Jimmy Brennan’s side.

Emmanuel Zambazis (York9 FC)

Although he hasn’t made many appearances for the Nine Stripes this season, the 22-year-old had no trouble fitting in as a solo holding midfielder. York9’s passing through midfield ripped HFX apart in this game, and much of that began with Zambazis, who finished with a sparkling passing accuracy of 97.1%.