Cyle Larin struck a hat-trick as Orlando City beat New York Red Bulls 5-2 in New Jersey to reach a three-match winning streak for the first time this season.
Adrian Heath's side rode the crest of a wave into the contest after beating Sporting Kansas City and Chicago Fire in recent weeks, and it was not long before the visitors set off on the road for a third successive win.
On 24 minutes, Larin opened the scoring by heading a Kaka cross beyond the reach of Luis Robles from inside the six-yard box.
The lead only lasted some five minutes, however, as Dax McCarty pounced with a point-blank header at the other end to level matters for the Red Bulls, who had won three of their last four.
It was not enough to earn parity at the break as 20-year-old Larin slotted beyond Robles just before half time to become the most prolific rookie in MLS history, having reached 13 for the season.
Damien Perrinelle's own goal less than a minute after the restart helped give City a two-goal advantage, which was wiped out when Lloyd Sam threw the hosts a lifeline on 58 minutes.
However, Larin was on hand to restore the cushion on the hour mark and secure a treble - his second of the season - before another booking for Matt Miazga on 77 minutes all but ended New York's hopes of a comeback.
Bryan Rochez - who replaced Larin - then added insult to injury with a fifth in the dying stages to compound the Red Bulls' woes.
Shane Callaghan
