Colorado Rapids finally surrendered their 15-game unbeaten run when they went down 5-1 at New York City FC on Saturday.
The damage was done in the first half. Frank Lampard slid home the opener in the 29th minute. Then, six minutes after the sides re-emerged after the weather delay that immediately followed the goal, Micheal Azira was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Three minutes before the interval, Tony Taylor punished hesitant defending by prodding a second goal past Howard.
Rapids rallied at the start of the second half but Steven Mendoza pounced on Eric Miller’s mistake in the 75th minute and Lampard grabbed two more goals late in the game to complete his first hat-trick in MLS.